Background: Severe obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Improvement in these comorbidities after surgically-induced
weight loss has been documented, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is an effective weight loss operation.
Methods: Of 840 patients who underwent Lap-Band
®, data are available in 402 out of 413 patients whose surgery took place at ≥ 1 year ago. Preoperative and follow-up data
were studied retrospectively to examine the effect of Lap-Band
®-induced weight loss on diabetes and hypertension. Results: Of 413 patients with at least 1 year postoperative follow-up,
53 (12.8%) were taking medications for type 2 diabetes preoperatively and 189 (45.7%) were on antihypertensive medications.
66% (n=35) of diabetic patients were also hypertensive. Resolution of diabetes was observed in 66% at 1-year and 80% at 2-year
follow-up. HbA1c dropped from 7.25% (5.6-11.0, n=53) preoperatively to 5.58% (5.0-6.2, n=15) at 2 years after surgery. Hypertension
resolved in 59.8% and 74% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was lower for diabetic patients
than for our cohort population (39.2% vs 41.2% at 1 year, 46.7% vs 54.2% at 18 months, and 52.6% vs 63.3% at 2 years, respectively).
Patients in whom diabetes was improved but not resolved had lower %EWL than did those whose diabetes went into remission (27.0%
at 1 year and 26.5% at 2 years). Patients with the shortest duration of diabetes (<5 years) and better weight loss after surgery
achieved higher resolution rates. Conclusions: Dramatic improvement in – and frequent resolution of – diabetes and hypertension
have been observed as a result of weight loss after Lap-Band
® surgery.
ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING - DIABETES - HYPERTENSION - BARIATRIC SURGERY - MORBID OBESITY - LAPAROSCOPY - DEVICE