http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/8/753

Long-Term Mortality after Gastric Bypass Surgery

Ted D. Adams, Ph.D., M.P.H., Richard E. Gress, M.A., Sherman C. Smith,
M.D., R. Chad Halverson, M.D., Steven C. Simper, M.D., Wayne D.
Rosamond, Ph.D., Michael J. LaMonte, Ph.D., M.P.H., Antoinette M.
Stroup, Ph.D., and Steven C. Hunt, Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

Background Although gastric bypass surgery accounts for 80% of
bariatric surgery in the United States, only limited long-term data
are available on mortality among patients who have undergone this
procedure as compared with severely obese persons from a general
population.

Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we determined the long-
term mortality (from 1984 to 2002) among 9949 patients who had
undergone gastric bypass surgery and 9628 severely obese persons who
applied for driver's licenses. From these subjects, 7925 surgical
patients and 7925 severely obese control subjects were matched for
age, sex, and body-mass index. We determined the rates of death from
any cause and from specific causes with the use of the National Death
Index.

Results During a mean follow-up of 7.1 years, adjusted long-term
mortality from any cause in the surgery group decreased by 40%, as
compared with that in the control group (37.6 vs. 57.1 deaths per
10,000 person-years, P<0.001); cause-specific mortality in the surgery
group decreased by 56% for coronary artery disease (2.6 vs. 5.9 per
10,000 person-years, P=0.006), by 92% for diabetes (0.4 vs. 3.4 per
10,000 person-years, P=0.005), and by 60% for cancer (5.5 vs. 13.3 per
10,000 person-years, P<0.001). However, rates of death not caused by
disease, such as accidents and suicide, were 58% higher in the surgery
group than in the control group (11.1 vs. 6.4 per 10,000 person-years,
P=0.04).

Conclusions Long-term total mortality after gastric bypass surgery was
significantly reduced, particularly deaths from diabetes, heart
disease, and cancer. However, the rate of death from causes other than
disease was higher in the surgery group than in the control group.

*** End abstract ***

It remains smarter to go with the non-surgical alternative to gastric
bypass for losing the black fat...

http://HeartMDPhD.com/BlackFat

http://HeartMDPhD.com/OffalFat

... by simply eating less, down to the right amount:

http://HeartMDPhD.com/BeSmart

Be hungry... be healthy... be hungrier... be euglycemic:

http://TheWellnessFoundation.com/BeHealthy

Prayerfully in the infinite power and might of the Holy Spirit,

Andrew <><
--
Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Lawful steward of http://EmoryCardiology.com
Brethren of the KING of kings and LORD of lords.
http://HeartMDPhD.com/ChristianBrethren