Key result
Bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significantly higher 30-day morbidity rate in patients ≥ 65 years of age (11.4%) compared to those < 65 years of age (6.6%).
Why the study?
Age ≥ 65 years is considered a relative contraindication for bariatric surgery and a risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes, but safety data for this group during the pandemic were needed.
Does bariatric surgery in patients ≥ 65 years old increase 30-day morbidity and mortality compared to patients < 65 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Observational (n=7,072)
Yes
Does bariatric surgery in patients ≥ 65 years old increase 30-day morbidity and mortality compared to patients < 65 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients aged 65 and older is associated with higher 30-day morbidity compared to younger patients, though mortality and COVID-19 infection rates were not significantly different.
Suggests heightened perioperative vigilance for older adults during pandemics; leaves open whether risks persist outside COVID-19 settings.
BACKGROUND: Age ≥ 65 years is regarded as a relative contraindication for bariatric surgery. Advanced age is also a recognised risk factor for adverse outcomes with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) which continues to wreak havoc on global populations. This study aimed to assess the safety of bariatric surgery (BS) in this particular age group during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the younger cohort. METHODS: We conducted a prospective international study of patients who underwent BS between 1/05/2020 and 31/10/2020. Patients were divided into two groups - patients ≥ 65-years-old (Group I) and patients < 65-years-old (Group II). The two groups were compared for 30-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: There were 149 patients in Group 1 and 6923 patients in Group II. The mean age, preoperative weight, and BMI were 67.6 ± 2.5 years, 119.5 ± 24.5 kg, and 43 ± 7 in Group I and 39.8 ± 11.3 years, 117.7±20.4 kg, and 43.7 ± 7 in Group II, respectively. Approximately, 95% of patients in Group 1 had at least one co-morbidity compared to 68% of patients in Group 2 (p = < 0.001). The 30-day morbidity was significantly higher in Group I (11.4%) compared to Group II (6.6%) (p = 0.022). However, the 30-day mortality and COVID-19 infection rates were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a higher complication rate in those ≥ 65 years of age compared to those < 65 years old. However, the mortality and postoperative COVID-19 infection rates are not significantly different between the two groups.
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Singhal et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Obesity (n=7,072). Age ≥ 65 years vs. Age < 65 years was evaluated on 30-day morbidity (p=0.022). Bariatric surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significantly higher 30-day morbidity rate in patients ≥ 65 years of age (11.4%) compared to those < 65 years of age (6.6%).
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