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Gastric Surgery Cuts Risk of Heart Attack in Half
– Reported, April 01 2014
New research shows obese people who have stomach surgery to lose weight will cut their risk of heart attack in half.
Doctors at the University of East Anglia, University of Manchester, and University of Aberdeen reviewed data of 14 studies involving more than 29,000 patients who underwent bariatric surgery. It revealed death rates reduced by 40 percent and heart attacks reduced by half, compared to obese people who did not have surgery. The research is the first comprehensive review of the impact of surgery on heart disease, stroke, and death.
Obesity is a worldwide problem with significant consequences on individuals and society. It is associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, many cancers, and a shorter life expectancy, senior author Dr. Yoon Loke, from UEAs Norwich Medical School, was quoted as saying. These findings suggest that surgery should be seriously considered in obese patients who have a high risk of heart disease [and] this is the right time for a large, high-quality trial of bariatric surgery in the NHS to confirm the potential benefits.
SOURCE: International Journal of Cardiology, March 2014