Impact of rapid weight loss on risk reduction of developing arterial hypertension in severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. A single-institution experience using the Framingham Hypertension Risk Score.

BACKGROUND

Morbid obesity is strongly associated with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to compare the risk of developing hypertension before and after bariatric surgery.

SETTING

U.S. university hospital.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent bariatric surgery from 2010 to 2015 at our institution. Nonhypertensive white individuals without diabetes at baseline were included in our study. The Framingham Hypertension Risk Score was used to predict the near-term incidence of the disease. This calculator predicts 1-, 2-, and 4-year incidence of hypertension.

RESULTS

A total of 475 patients met the criteria for the hypertension risk score calculation. Females composed 72% (n = 342) of our population with a mean age of 42.6 ± 11.6 years. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was the most prevalent procedure at 81.89% (n = 389). At 12- month follow-up, the 1-year absolute risk reduction (ARR) and the relative risk reduction (RRR) were 6.2% and 69.2% (P < .01), respectively. The 2-year ARR was 11.9%, with an RRR of 67.9% (P < .01). The 4-year risk was also calculated at 12-month follow-up, resulting in an ARR of 20.1%, and RRR of 63.7% (P < .01). Furthermore, stratifying by type of procedure, the results were comparable between sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Regarding blood pressure values at 12-month follow-up, the systolic blood pressure was reduced 11.4 mm Hg (P < .01) and the diastolic blood pressure was reduced 4.4 mm Hg (P = .07). The percentage of estimated body mass index loss at 12-month follow-up was 71.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass significantly diminish the risk of developing hypertension in morbidly obese patients. Prospective studies are needed to better comprehend these findings.