Bariatric surgery is a therapeutic option to prevent cardiovascular diseases
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Ecuador. The main risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease are obesity, being overweight, having high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, etc.
To prevent these diseases, lifestyle changes are important. However, in patients where obesity and excess weight are growing cardiovascular risk factors, several medical societies around the world have considered considered bariatric surgery as the best option to lose weight in a sustained and definitive way, Alfredo Luna, an internist and cardiologist, has explained to MEDICAL DRAFTING.
"Bariatric surgery reverses cardiac alterations derived from excess weight and obesity,”. Luna explained. For example, through this procedure, coronary disease (especially in diabetic patients), high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia can all be prevented. In addition, the probability of suffering a heart attack decreases since the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease decrease. Other benefits of the surgery include the normalization of blood pressure, a reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and its most important metabolic effect, the remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus, among others.
“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) stated earlier this year that metabolic surgery should be recommended as an option for treating type 2 diabetes.. There is abundant evidence that, compared with changes in lifestyle and other medical interventions, metabolic surgery is superior in glycemic control and in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity,” Luna added.
For these reasons, he believes that any patient with type 2 diabetes who is overweight or obese should consider bariatric surgery as a therapeutic alternative. The procedure will help patients lose weight steadily, without suffering the rebound effect ,reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases and, above all, increase their life expectancy.
However, Luna emphasized that prior to bariatric surgeryall patients must undergo a cardiological check-up,where the general condition of the patient is determined. Luna pointed out that many conditions, such as hypertension, are not an impediment to perform this surgery, it is important for the doctor to know the actual condition of the patient before the procedure.
Results in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
In his experience, Luna has been able to verify that, “many type 2 diabetic patients were cured,” through metabolic surgery “and others significantly improved their control of the disease.".
He noted that patients with high blood pressure also improved significantly and many of them no longer needed anti-hypertensive medication after the intervention. Luna even noted that patients who underwent the weight loss surgery were 70 percent less likely to have a heart attack.
The effectivity of the procedure, he explains, makes metabolic surgery an exceptional therapeutic option for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, even in non-obese patients.
