Does weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy contribute to reduction in blood pressure?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nObesity-related hypertension is a life-threatening medical condition that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality. Effective treatment of obesity may be achieved by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). This surgical method contributes not only to sustained weight loss, but also to resolution of hypertension.\n\n\nOBJECTIVES\nThe aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of weight loss after LSG on resolution or amelioration of hypertension.\n\n\nPATIENTS AND METHODS\nA retrospective analysis of medical and clinical data of 305 patients who had undergone LSG was performed. The bariatric effect of LSG was assessed by calculating percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) and BMI loss (%EBMIL). Blood pressure status after surgery was categorized as partial or total remission of hypertension.\n\n\nRESULTS\n143 patients (46.9%) were diagnosed with hypertension preoperatively with median hypertension duration of 7.52 (1.88 - 13.16) years. Hypertensive patients were older (49 vs. 38.5 years) and had higher prevalence of coexisting diseases (type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and obstructive sleep apnea) than patients with normal blood pressure. During one-year observation 90 patients (63%) reduced antihypertensive medications and 33 patients (23%) discontinued the therapy. Twelve months after the surgery %TWL in control group was 32.5 (28.1-37.7)%, while in hypertensive group 29.1 (25.9-33.6)% (p<0.001), %EWL was 62.9 (53-74.6)% and 54.8 (47.4-68.2)% respectively (p=0.001) and %EBMIL 73.9 (59.5-91.2)% and 63 (55-80.5)% (p=0.002) respectively.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nLSG is an effective method of obesity-related hypertension treatment. However, weight loss induced by LSG does not affect the blood pressure status after the surgery.