Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Patients >60 Years of Age: Morbidity and Short-Term Outcomes

Abstract

Obesity is a common disease in the elderly population, and bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention to achieve significant and sustainable weight loss. Many bariatric programs have established an arbitrary cutoff at the age of 60 to 65years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and short-term outcomes of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in patients older than 60years. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent RYGB from 2004 to 2019 in a single center. Logistic and linear multivariate regressions were made to compare complications and short-term outcomes between patients aged > 60years and < 60years. The statistical significance was set at p ≤0.05. From 849 patients who underwent a primary RYGB, 57 were > 60years of age. Overall, early and late complications were similar in both groups, except for unexpected intensive care unit (ICU) admission which was more frequent in the > 60years group. Excess body weight loss (%EWL) and percentage total weight loss (%TWL) at 1year in patients > 60years old were 76.6 ± 21.8% and 30.73 ± 6.8%, respectively. Figures for the same parameters in the control group were 81.7 ± 19.9% (p = 0.09) and 34.3 ± 7.2 (p = 0.001), respectively. In our experience, an age > 60 is not related to higher rates of overall early and late complications after RYGB. Comorbidity remission rates are similar to those in younger patients. Elderly patients had lower total weight loss at 1year, but the %EWL was similar in both groups.