Impact of gastric restrictive surgery on hypertension in the morbidly obese

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 163; no. 3; pp. 294 - 297
• Main Authors: Foley, Eugene F., Benotti, Peter N., Borlase, Bradley C., Hollingshead, Jay, Blackburn, George L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1992; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Antihypertensives; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure; Body weight; Body weight loss; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastric Bypass; Gastroplasty; Health risks; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Obesity; Obesity, Morbid - complications; Obesity, Morbid - surgery; Risk factors; Standard error; Surgery; Weight Loss; Human; Hypertension; Stomach; Obesity; Treatment; Surgery; Metabolic diseases; Circulatory system
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9610(92)90005-C

Hypertension is a major health risk factor in patients who are morbidly obese. Two hundred eighty-nine morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric restrictive surgery were evaluated for the presence of hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 90 mm Hg or currently undergoing antihypertensive therapy) pre- and postoperatively. Of 74 (26%) preopperatively hypertensive patients, 67 (91%) were available for follow-up. Preoperative hypertension resolved in 66% (44 of 67) of patients following gastric restrictive surgery. Superobese and morbidly obese patients had similar reductions in hypertension after surgery (69% versus 63%). Patients not receiving antihypertensives preoperatively had a greater reduction of hypertension than those medically treated preoperatively (78% versus 58%). The amount of weight loss significantly predicted the reduction of hypertension, whereas follow-up weight achieved did not. The amounts of weight loss for patients with resolved and persistent hypertension were 89.3 ± 5.6 lbs (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]) and 66.0 ± 8.3 lbs, respectively (p < 0.02). For patients with resolved hypertension, follow-up weights for the morbidly obese and superobese were 162.0 ± 10.8 lbs (133% ± 4% ideal body weight [IBW]) and 220.4 ± 9.5 lbs (170% ± 7% IBW). Gastric restrictive surgery is effective therapy for hypertension in morbidly obese patients. Patients need not achieve weights approaching IBW to enjoy the benefits of gastric restrictive surgery on hypertension.