Lipid profile changes in the severely obese after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery.

Background: Since there is an increasing acceptance of the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and limited information regarding its effect on cardiac risk factors, we assessed lipid profiles.

Methods: A retrospective review of patient records pre and post LSG was performed. Analysis of variance evaluated group differences and paired t tests compared variable changes.

Results: Eighty two patients (67 % female, age 46.4 ± 13.9) had presurgery lipid profiles and follow-up (43 at 1 year, 28 at 3 years, and 26 at 5 years). Groups were not different in gender distribution. The presurgery mean body mass index (BMI) was 55.7 kg/m(2); 65.9 % of the subjects were super obese. After surgery, percentage of excess BMI loss was 58.1 % year (yr) 1, 61.3 % yr 3, and 39.0 % yr 5. Lipids were within the normal ranges for all parameters at all times; however, at baseline 77 % had at least one abnormality. At 1 year, triglycerides decreased significantly from baseline (adjusted p value (adj-p) = 0.004) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (adj-p = 0.025). Year 3 HDL was significantly different from baseline, adj-p = 0.0001. Yr 3 cholesterol increased from baseline, (adj-p = 0.027). Negative linear correlations with weight loss were present for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) at yr 3(r = 0.46, p = 0.02) and triglyceride change at year 5 (r = 0.48, p = 0.02). The percentage of patients with dyslipidemia or medicated did not change significantly during these 5 years.

Conclusions: For this population electing LSG, mean lipid profiles were within normal ranges for all parameters before surgery. However, 77 % showed at least one abnormality presurgery. Weight change correlated with some changes of triglycerides, HDL, and LDL over time, but the impact was limited.