Macrovascular outcomes and mortality after bariatric surgery in patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, and Type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, with a significant association between MASLD and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). While bariatric surgery (BS) has showed efficacy in improving MASLD markers and reducing CVD incidence, its impact on macrovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with obesity, MASLD, and T2DM remains understudied. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized the TriNetX. Adult patients (> 18 years) with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²), MASLD, and T2DM were included. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to compare patients undergoing BS with nonsurgical controls. Primary outcomes was the incidence of macrovascular disease, defined as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cerebrovascular events. Secondary outcomes was all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: A total of 53,204 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 2,463 underwent BS. After matching (2,449 surgical vs. 2,449 nonsurgical patients), BS was associated with a significantly lower risk of macrovascular events (HF: HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.90; coronary artery disease: HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.21-0.44; cerebrovascular disease: HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.25-0.57) over a mean follow-up of 5.3 years. All-cause mortality was also significantly reduced in the BS group (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15-0.62). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the consistency of these results. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggeststhat bariatric surgery significantly lower risk of macrovascular events and all-cause mortality in patients with obesity, MASLD, and T2DM.