Assessing the effect of bariatric surgery on carotid intima-media thickness: A prospective clinical study

Background: Obesity has become a significant global health challenge, contributing to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is widely recognized as an important surrogate marker for atherosclerosis and serves as an early indicator of cardiovascular disease. This research aims to assess the impact of bariatric surgery on CIMT in individuals with obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from 2018 to 2019, involving 60 obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery. CIMT was assessed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months post-surgery using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Statistical analyses were used to assess CIMT variations and identify any potential confounding factors. Results: Participants had an average age of 32.46 ± 3.2 years and an average body mass index of 40.6 ± 2.3 kg/m 2 . Postoperative assessments revealed a remarkable decline in CIMT, with the right CIMT decreasing from 0.60 ± 0.10 to 0.30 ± 0.10 mm, and the left CIMT from 0.63 ± 0.13 to 0.38 ± 0.12 mm after 6 months with a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.001). No substantial correlations were found between changes in CIMT and metabolic factors, including fasting blood sugar, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Conclusion: Bariatric surgery led to substantial decreases in CIMT, suggesting improvements in subclinical atherosclerosis and a potential reduction in cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients.