Sjostrom L, Lindroos AK, Peltonen M, et al. Lifestyle, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors 10 years after bariatric surgery. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:2683–2693.
CLINICAL QUESTION: How effective is bariatric surgery in the long term?
STUDY DESIGN: Non-randomized controlled trial
ALLOCATION: Unconcealed
SETTING: Population-based
SYNOPSIS: A recent meta-analysis found that bariatric surgery successfully treats many of the comorbid conditions associated with obesity. However, most of the studies were of less than 2 years’ duration (JAMA 2004; 292:1724–1737).
Bariatric surgery successfully helps patients lose weight and reverse diabetes, hypertension, and some hyperlipidemias. We still do not know whether it affects all-cause mortality. (LOE=2c)