The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Weight Reduction and the Resolution of Comorbidities in Older Geriatric Populations of Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract

Background Obesity is a significant health concern among older adults, leading to various comorbidities and reduced quality of life. Bariatric surgery (BS) has emerged as a potential intervention, but its efficacy in geriatric populations, particularly in Saudi Arabia, is not well-established. Aims This retrospective study aims to evaluate the impact of BS on weight reduction and comorbidity resolution in Saudi Arabian geriatric populations. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Khalid Hospital, Saudi Arabia, involving geriatric patients aged 60 and above who underwent BS between January 2018 and December 2022. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis. Results The study included a total of 26 patients with a mean age of 64 years. Of these, 18 (69.3%) were females, while eight (30.7%) were males, and 23 (87%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG), while three (13%) had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Preoperative comorbidities majorly included diabetes (17, 35.42%), hypertension (11, 22.92%), and anemia (four, 8.33%). The average body mass index (BMI) of the patients decreased significantly from 45.12 to 37.29 at three months and further to 31.36 at six months post surgery. Total weight loss (TWL) was 19.92% at three months and 35.15% at six months, while the percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) was 33.42% at three months and 57.85% at six months. Results also showed a significant reduction in the number of comorbidities postoperatively. A significant association with gender, preoperative weight, and preoperative height at three and six months and a significant association with preoperative BMI and comorbidity status at six months were recorded. Conclusion The study suggests that bariatric surgery is effective in achieving significant weight loss and improving comorbidities in geriatric patients. Few demographic and clinical features affect the outcome of the weight loss.