Surgery

The safety of bariatric surgeries for obese individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) has always been a matter of deliberation. According to a study by scientists at the Emory University School of Medicine, weight loss surgeries could be considered safe for persons affected by chronic kidney disease.

Data about almost 27,736 CKD patients was inspected by accessing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File. As per the observations, the chances of experiencing risks associated with weight loss surgeries were seemingly associated with the CKD stage.

While 75% of the subjects suffered from stage 1 of CKD, about 18% reached stage 2 of the disease. The scientists believed that CKD stage may be directly related to the complications encountered by patients. This kind of correlation was found after variables like diabetes and hypertension were adjusted in the analysis.

Although a higher CKD stage signified greater possibility of complications, the cumulative risk factor did not appear to cross 10%. However, patients with worse renal function could be at greater risk from bariatric surgeries, as compared to those with optimal renal function.

Usually, obese people suffering from CKD aim to lose weight for better health. However, they are unable to do so, as they find it difficult to engage in workout sessions or other physical activities. Therefore, weight loss surgeries could serve as an effective alternative for such patients.

However, the CKD stage, dialysis and presence of other metabolic disorders have to be taken into consideration before stepping onto bariatric surgeries. The team cautioned that more studies are required to gauge if the potential benefits outdo the risks with regards to weight loss surgeries.

The study is published online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).