Comparing Diabetes Outcomes: Weight-independent Effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Matched Patients With Similar Weight Loss.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if sleeve gastrectomy has weight-independent benefits on diabetes outcomes.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Weight loss is recommended when treating conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve or resolve metabolic conditions, but weight loss outcomes vary by procedure type.

METHODS

Using data from a statewide bariatric surgery registry, a total of 988 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of diabetes who underwent either laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) were included in the study. The patients were matched based on age, race, sex, preoperative body mass index (BMi) and weight loss at 1 year after surgery. Chi-square comparisons were conducted for medication discontinuation for diabetes. Secondary outcome measures included discontinuation of medications for hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 53.9 years, 75.5% were female, 89.3% were White. Mean preoperative BMi was 44.8 kg/m2 and 75.7% had noninsulin dependent diabetes, whereas 24.3% had insulin dependent diabetes. Mean % BMi loss at 1 year is similar between the 2 groups (8.3% vs 8.1%, P = 0.3811). LSG patients had significantly higher rates of discontinuation of oral diabetes medication (70.4% vs 46.0%, P < 0.0001), insulin (51.7% vs 38.3%, P = 0.0341), anti-hypertensive (41.1% vs 26.0%, P < 0.0001), and cholesterol-lowering medications (40.1% vs 27.8%, P = 0.0016) when compared to LAGB patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite similar preoperative characteristics and postoperative weight loss, LSG patients experienced significantly higher rates of medication discontinuation for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia than LAGB. These results suggest that LSG may have weight-independent effects on metabolic disease and should be considered in the treatment of diabetes, regardless of perceived weight loss outcomes.