gms | German Medical Science

Background: There is no clear evidence regarding age and preoperative BMI as a predictive factor in excess weight loss after bariatric surgery and especially after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of age and preoperative BMI on postoperative weight loss in terms of excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) at one year after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Materials and methods: Adult obese patients fulfilling selection criteria who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between 2009 and 2013 in our institution were grouped according to age < and ≥ 45 years on one hand and on the other according to preoperative BMI < 50 and ≥ 50 with follow up at 1 year. The different age and BMI groups were compared concerning excess BMI loss (%EBMIL) and other clinical outcomes. Possible relationship between laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, age, preoperative BMI and %EBMIL was searched.

Results: One hundred thirty-five patients (61,5% female), 60 (44,4%) younger than 45 years, 75 (55,6%) with age ≥ 45 years, 50 (37%) with BMI <50 and 85 (63%) with BMI ≥ 50. Significant difference was shown between age group (p = 0,034), BMI group (0,008) and %EBMIL 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, showing better results in patients < 45 years and BMI < 50. In terms of gender no difference was found. Table 1 [Tab. 1].

Conclusion: It was shown that patients younger than 45 years with a preoperative BMI less than 50 lose greater amount of excess BMI than older patients with a preoperative BMI ≥ 50 after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Therefore age and preoperative BMI might be determining factors concerning preoperative weight loss predictions in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.