Pre-operative weight, BMI and the incidence of obesity co-morbidities vary by sex in bariatric surgery patients: analysis of 166,601 women and men with obesity

Background: Variations in pre-operative characteristics by sex in bariatric surgery cannot be easily extrapolated from current literature. Objective: to identify pre-operative differences between males and females across the spectrum of bariatric procedures, weight and co-morbidities. Methods: Data from 166,601 pre-operative Surgical Review Corporation Bariatric Longitudinal Database (BOLD) patients undergoing bariatric surgery were divided into females (n=130,612) and males (n=35, 989). Statistics: Chi-square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Males displayed higher pre-operative age, BMI, weight, and rates of cardiopulmonary obesity co-morbidities, diabetes, gout, dyslipidemia, abdominal hernia, liver disease, alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse. Females suffered more from asthma, GERD, cholelithiasis, stress urinary incontinence, abdominal panniculitis, somatic obesity co-morbidities and mental health conditions (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Pre-operative weight, BMI, and weight-related medical problems vary by sex among patients undergoing bariatric surgery. With this advance knowledge, surgeons managing obese patients can anticipate co-morbidities by sex and adjust pre- and post- surgical preparations accordingly.