The Effects of Bariatric Surgery on the Requirement for Antihypertensive Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes: Insights from a Long-Term Follow-Up Study

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery (BS) has emerged an effective intervention in achieving significant and sustained weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, comprehensive data on the long-term impact of BS on hypertension is scarce. We aimed to investigate the long-term impact of BS on blood pressure management in individuals within a T2D cohort.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 119 patients who underwent BS between 2009 and 2012. Baseline and follow-up observations, including blood pressure, HbA1c, BMI, and antihypertensive medication use were obtained from electronic patient records at regular intervals up to and beyond 10-year follow-up.

RESULTS: The median follow-up period for the 119 patients was 11.5 years. Mean fall in BMI 4-8 weeks post-surgery was 12%. A sustained reduction in systolic BP was observed up to 10 years post-surgery (154.5 mmHg pre-op vs. 132.8 mmHg at 10 years; p < 0.0001. From 5 years onwards, there were increases in mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI). At latest follow-up (> 5 years after bariatric surgery), the number of individuals prescribed an antihypertensive agent started to increase. This is in the context of the number of the number of individuals on 2-3 antihypertensive agents declining up until 5 years post-BS. Specifically, there was a reduction in the number of prescriptions of an antihypertensive agent over time from 164 prescriptions pre-operatively to 81 at 8 weeks post-operatively, 78 at 6 months, 72 at 1 year, 66 at 5 years before rising at 10 years to 95 prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows an overall benefit in the years after bariatric surgery in terms of blood pressure and requirement for antihypertensive medication. However, at 5 years and beyond after surgery, the beneficial effect of bariatric surgery diminishes with respect to an increase in number of antihypertensive medication prescriptions, BMI, and HbA1c.