[Clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with morbid obesity at the time of hospital admission and one year after undergoing bariatric surgery].

Background: Three percent of Mexicans suffer from morbid obesity. Comorbidities associated to this condition diminish quality of life, increase mortality and health care costs. Despite bariatric surgery has specific indications and risks, it is the only treatment with effective long-term results. The aim of the study was to evaluate biochemical and clinical patient characteristics, both preoperatively and a year after they underwent bariatric surgery.

Methods: We carried out a quasi-experimental study that evaluates a sample of patients in the Clínica de Obesidad at Hospital de Especialidades (a third level hospital) between March 2011 and October 2015.

Results: A total of 150 patients were analyzed (60 % were women). Mean age was 41 ± 9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 48 kg/m2 (42-53 kg/m2). Before surgery, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was present in 31 %, hypertension in 60 % and 30 % of the patients were "metabolically healthy obese". A year after surgery, the percentage of excess body weight loss was 66 %, T2DM and hypertension remission was 70 % and 50 %, respectively.

Conclusion: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment to reduce excess weight. It improves biochemical, and clinical parameters in extreme obese patients.