Obesity represents a chronic pro-inflammatory status that contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis and cell aging. Besides the widely used C-reactive protein and ferritin, other inflammatory markers have gained attention, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), which are related with the degree of inflammation in various pathological conditions, including obesity and its comorbidities.
To compare and monitor the levels of NLR and PLR before and after sleeve gastrectomy (SG).
Retrospective study that included a total of 622 patients with obesity who underwent SG as primer bariatric surgery in our center. Data regarding the presence of comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), high blood pressure (HBP) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), variations in body weight and body mass index (BMI), and biochemical markers of inflammation, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were gathered. Values of NLR and PLR were correlated with weight loss and prognosis of comorbidities within the postoperative period.
The sample was predominantly female (79.3%) with average age 36.91±10.04 years, with comorbidities including HBP (25.1%), T2D (8.0%), and NAFLD (80.1%). Patients with HBP showed reduced NLR and CRP post-intervention, while those with T2D experienced decreased CRP but increased PLR. Correlation analysis found no significant correlation between BMI/weight changes and NLR but significant correlation with PLR. Post-surgery, NLR decreased for previously NAFLD patients, and PLR increased.
According to the results, patients with obesity present a significant decrease in NLR and an increase in PLR after SG.
Affective temperaments are part of the spectrum of mood disorders and comprise the concepts of hyperthymia, dysthymia and cyclothymia. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between obesity and mood disorders.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of affective temperaments in morbidly obese individuals and controls and to establish a possible association between affective temperaments and morbid obesity.
The study evaluated 106 cases (morbidly obese) and one hundred controls (non-obese). To assess affective temperaments, the Temperament Evaluation in Memphis Pisa and San Diego - Rio de Janeiro TEMPS-Rio de Janeiro scale was applied. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, anxiety symptoms using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and manic symptoms using the Young Mania Rating Scale. For univariate and multivariate analysis, logistic regression models were adjusted.
The presence of at least one affective temperament was 74.5% in the morbidly obese group and 63% in the non-obese group. When comparing the two groups, the statistical analysis of the age subgroup of individuals aged 50 years or over showed an odds ratio of 2.56 (1.07-6.09) for hyperthymic temperament.
In the age group of 50 years or more, cases of morbid obesity are significantly more likely (2.56 times) to occur in individuals with a hyperthymic temperament. Among the three types of affective temperaments evaluated, only hyperthymia could be a risk factor for morbid obesity.
Research indicates that patients undergoing bariatric surgery face a six to seven times higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared with the population of obese individuals not undergoing surgical intervention. Studies suggest that problematic alcohol consumption encompassing depression escalates gradually after surgery.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on the incidence of AUD and depression during the postoperative period.
Prospective study that evaluated 68 patients who underwent either sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The presence of AUD and depression was assessed both pre- and post-operatively. AUD assessment utilized the AUD identification test-C score, whereas depression assessment employed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
The average age of the sample was 42.81±9.28 years, with 85.3% being female. The mean follow-up was 16.54±7.41 months. In the preoperative assessment, 92.6% of the sample fell into the low-risk category for AUD. No significant difference was observed between the RYGB and SG groups. Postoperatively, 89.7% of the sample was classified as low risk for AUD, with no significant differences compared with the preoperative assessment. Regarding depression, there was no significant difference between pre- and post-operative periods for all patients. However, a notable trend toward a reduction in “severe depression” was observed in the postoperative period for patients undergoing SG (pre: 14.0% vs. post: 7.0%, p=0.013).
There is no significant difference in the presence of AUD and depression between pre- and post-operative assessments in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
Obesity is a predisposing factor for serious comorbidities, particularly those related to elevated cardiovascular mortality. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been shown to be a useful indicator of patients with insulin resistance.
The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk before and after surgical treatment of obesity.
A total of 615 patients undergoing bariatric surgery between 2007 and 2012 were evaluated using the analysis of electronic records (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) before and after surgery. The AIP levels >3.5 mg/dL for men and >2.5 mg/dL for women were insulin-resistant and predisposed to cardiovascular events.
A total of 117 men had an AIP >3.5 mg/dL during the preoperative period, 13.5% during the early postoperative period, 14.3% during the intermediate period, and 18.2% during the late postoperative period. Among 498 women, 56.2% had an AIP >2.5 mg/dL before surgery, 17.9% in early postoperative period, 13.5% in the intermediate period, and 11.4% in the late period.
Bariatric surgery resulted in a significant effect on the AIP, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and therefore, the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Preoperative hospitalization with the purpose to obtain more effective weight loss provides intensive care for patients who have a higher body mass index (BMI) and associated diseases that involve a greater risk of peri- and postoperative complications. It is a therapeutic strategy that can make it possible to overcome obstacles related to the difficulty of adhering to obesity treatment.
To analyze the implementation of a preoperative hospitalization strategy for weight loss in patients eligible for bariatric surgery.
Retrospective study that included 194 patients with a BMI=50 kg/m2. They were grouped according to preoperative preparation strategies: inpatient (n=32) and outpatient (n=162), who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between 2010 and 2020. The groups were compared regarding preoperative weight loss before and after the strategies and postoperative up to two years after surgery.
Most patients were female and there were significant differences in age group (an average of 42.94 years in the preoperative hospitalization strategy group and 37.73 in the outpatient strategy group). The mean BMI in the hospitalized group was 63.01±8.72 kg/m2, and in the outpatient group it was 54.95±4.31 kg/m2. There was a significant difference only between initial and preoperative weight in the hospitalized group. Furthermore, the difference between initial weight and last recorded weight up to two years after surgery was significant in each group. The occurrence of associated diseases was higher in the outpatient group.
Patients following the preoperative hospitalization strategy experienced significant weight loss before surgery.
Obesity is recognized as a significant risk factor for various types of cancer. Although the incidence of some types of cancer across various primary sites is decreasing due to specific prevention measures (screening programs, smoking cessation), the incidence of neoplasms in the young population shows a significant increase associated with obesity. There is sufficient evidence to say that bariatric surgery has been shown to significantly lower the risk of developing obesity-associated cancers, which are linked to metabolic dysregulation, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, and hormonal alterations such as elevated levels of insulin and sex hormones.
There is recent evidence showing that obesity is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal dysmotility, although symptoms are not always present.
This is a prospective study based on high-resolution manometry findings in bariatric surgery candidates and their correlation with postoperative dysphagia.
Manometric evaluation was performed on candidates for bariatric surgery from 2022 to 2024. The examination was conducted according to the protocol of the fourth version of the Chicago Classification, including different positions and provocative maneuvers to confirm the diagnosis of dysmotility. Patients were followed for 90 days after surgery to verify the occurrence of dysphagia or difficulty adapting to the diet.
High-resolution manometry was performed on 46 candidates for bariatric surgery with a mean body mass index of 46.5 kg/m2. Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction was diagnosed in 16 (34.8%) patients, and ineffective esophageal motility was diagnosed in 8 (17.4%) patients. None of the subjects reported symptoms during the preoperative period. Out of the 46 individuals initially included, 44 underwent bariatric surgery, 23 (52.3%) underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 21 (47.7%) underwent sleeve gastrectomy. One patient with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction reported dysphagia after Roux-en-Y bypass, but symptoms spontaneously resolved during the 90-day follow-up period.
Although patients with severe obesity have a high prevalence of esophageal motility disorders, no clinical repercussions were observed after bariatric surgery during the study period.
Obesity is a multifactorial disease affecting a significant portion of the population. Bariatric surgery emerges as a prominent approach in this context, representing an effective treatment both in the short and long term. The costs associated with bariatric surgery vary depending on the characteristics of the patients, current hospital practices, and available funding sources.
To analyze the costs of minimally invasive bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity in a tertiary federal public hospital.
An observational and descriptive study aimed at assessing the costs associated with laparoscopic vertical gastrectomy (GV) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in a federal public tertiary service from 2018 to 2021. Data were obtained through the management of medical-hospital expenses related to surgical and anesthetic supplies, as well as the amount reimbursed by the funding source to the hospital.
Over the analyzed period, a total of 177 minimally invasive bariatric surgeries were performed. In terms of the charges, since 2018, the hospital has been receiving an amount of R$ 6,145.00 for the “bariatric surgery by videolaparoscopy” procedure, which includes RYGB, and R$ 4,095.00 for “vertical gastrectomy.” Regarding the average hospital cost of surgical supplies, RYGB incurred a total of R$ 9,907.54, while GV incurred a total of R$ 9,315.84. The average total cost of RYGB was R$ 10,799.23, and, for GV, it was R$ 10,207.53. These figures indicate that the hospital incurred a loss of approximately R$ 4,654.23 for performing RYGB and R$ 6,112.53 for GV.
Despite the increasing number of eligible patients for surgical treatment of obesity and the consequent quantitative growth of these procedures funded by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the costs exceed the reimbursement from the funding source in federal public hospitals. There is a need for a precise assessment of financing in the fight against obesity.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in the world and was recently renamed to emphasize its metabolic component.
This article seeks to fill the gap in specific guidelines for patients with obesity and MASLD who will undergo bariatric surgery.
A systematic search for guidelines was carried out on PubMed and Embase platforms.
A total of 544 articles were found, of which 11 were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. All 11 guidelines are from clinical societies; therefore, they do not include some necessary interpretations for bariatric patients.
We recommend that every patient undergoing bariatric and metabolic surgery be screened initially with the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, followed by transient hepatic elastography (vibration-controlled transient elastography, VCTE), especially for those with FIB-4>1.3. However, interpreting VCTE results in obese patients requires further studies to define the actual cutoff values. Enhanced Liver Fibrosis® shows promise but its availability is limited. The indication for liver biopsy during surgery needs to be individualized but it is recommended for those with changes in FIB-4 and/or VCTE. Family screening is recommended for relatives of young patients with already advanced fibrosis. Liver transplantation is an option for patients with advanced MASLD but the optimal timing for bariatric surgery with transplantation is still unclear. Regular follow-up and VCTE examination are recommended to monitor disease progression after surgery.
One anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) has gained prominence in the search for better results in bariatric surgery. However, its efficacy and safety compared to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) remain ill-defined.
To compare the efficacy and safety of OAGB relative to RYGB and SG in the treatment of obesity.
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases for randomized controlled trials comparing OAGB with RYGB or SG in the surgical approach to obesity. We pooled outcomes for body mass index, percentage of excess weight loss, type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Statistical analyses were performed with R software (version 4.2.3).
Data on 854 patients were extracted from 11 randomized controlled trials, of which 422 (49.4%) were submitted to OAGB with mean follow-up ranging from six months to five years. The meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of excess weight loss at 1-year follow-up and a significantly lower body mass index at 5-year follow-up in OAGB patients. Conversely, rates of type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were not significantly different between groups. The overall quality of evidence was considered very low.
Our results corroborate the comparable efficacy of OAGB in relation to RYGB and SG in the treatment of obesity, maintaining no significant differences in type-2 diabetes mellitus remission, complications, and gastroesophageal reflux disease rates.
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