Benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in patients aged more than 60 years.

BACKGROUND:The benefits and risks of bariatric surgery are debated in older patients. The objective of this study was to compare the weight changes and adverse outcomes in patients>60 years and in younger ones. METHODS:The French SOFFCO registry was screened for gastric bypass (RYGB), gastric banding (LAGB), or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) performed between 2007 and 2010. Adverse outcomes and weight changes (%) over 12 months were compared between patients<40 years (N = 1379), between 40-59 years (N = 1065), and>60 years (N = 164). RESULTS:After a RYGB surgical (12.3 versus 3.8%; P = .03) and nonsurgical (7.0% versus .8%; P = .01) complications were more prevalent in patients above 60 years than in those below 40. No increased prevalence of surgical and nonsurgical complications was seen after a LAGB or a SG. Weight loss (% of initial weight) was lower after a LAGB than after a RYGB or a SG. After LAGB weight loss (%) did not differ between patients above 60 years and those aged<40 (difference 1.7±1.5%, P = .26). After a RYGB weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-5.6±1.7%, P = .001) than in those aged<40 years. After a SG, weight loss (%) was lower in patients aged>60 years (-7.0±2.6%, P = .01) than in those aged<40 years. CONCLUSION:Bariatric surgery can be a short-term effective and safe therapeutic option in elderly patients. LAGB or SG appears to be an alternative strategy to RYGB, with lower adverse outcome rate.