Purpose: Given the lack of evidence of the effect of bariatric surgery (BS) on atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD), which is a characteristic of obese subjects, this study aimed to describe the remission rate of AD 1 year after BS in severely obese patients.
Materials and methods: A non-randomised, prospective cohort study was conducted in patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with a 1-year follow-up. AD was defined as triglycerides ≥1.71 mmol/l or treatment with fibrates and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (<1.03 mmol/l in men or <1.3 mmol/l in women).
Results: AD was present in 81 (22.8%) of the 356 patients; these were more frequently men and presented higher total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations. AD remission rate was 74.1% at 3 months, 90.1% at 6 months and 96.3% at 12 months, respectively, after BS. In this group of patients, HDL cholesterol levels rose progressively (1.0 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.3 mmol/l, p < 0.001) and triglycerides decreased (2.5 ± 0.9 to 1.2 ± 0.5 mmol/l, p < 0.001) during follow-up. Regarding previous lipid-lowering therapy, fibrates and ezetimibe were withdrawn in all patients and statins in 69.4% 1 year after surgery.
Conclusion: BS has beneficial effects on lipid profile, achieving complete remission of AD at 1 year of follow-up in almost all patients.
Keywords: Atherogenic dyslipidemia; Atherogenic index; Bariatric surgery; Morbid obesity.