The impact of bariatric surgery on admissions for gastrointestinal complications and conditions associated with obesity: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity worsens various gastrointestinal pathologies. While bariatric surgery ameliorates obesity, it substantially modifies the gastrointestinal system depending on surgery type, with limited data on subsequent impact on obesity-related gastrointestinal admissions. METHODS: Using the 2012-2014 Nationwide Readmission Database, we included individuals with obesity who received vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), or hernia repair (HR-control surgery). Our main focus was the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for gastrointestinal inpatient admissions within 6 months following surgery compared to the 6 months preceding it, while controlling for several confounding factors. Gastrointestinal admissions were grouped into postoperative complications or obesity-associated gastrointestinal conditions. RESULTS: Our cohort included 140,103 adults with RYGB, 132,253 with VSG, and 12,436 HR controls. Postoperative gastrointestinal complications were most common after RYGB, prominently obstruction (aOR = 33.17, 95%CI: 18.01, 61.10), and Clostridium difficile infection (aOR: 12.52, 95%CI: 6.22, 25.19). VSG also saw significantly increased but less frequent similar conditions. Notably, for gastrointestinal conditions associated with obesity, acute pancreatitis risk was higher post-VSG (aOR = 6.26, 95%CI: 4.02, 9.73). Post-RYGB patients were most likely to be admitted for cholelithiasis with cholecystitis (aOR: 4.15, 95% CI: 3.24, 5.31), followed by chronic liver disease (aOR: 3.00, 95% CI: 2.33, 3.87). The risk of noninfectious colitis admissions was threefold higher after RYGB and VSG. No gastrointestinal conditions showed an increase after HR. CONCLUSION: Despite weight loss, bariatric surgery was associated with an increased risk of hepato-pancreatobiliary and colitis admissions related to obesity in the first six postoperative months, with considerable variations in rates of gastrointestinal conditions by surgery type.

Historical Obesity and Early-Onset Cancers: A Propensity-Weighted Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of early-onset obesity-related cancers (diagnosed < 50 years) is increasing in the U.S. We examined the reported historical body mass index (BMI) of adults with early and later-onset cancers to explore relation to obesity. METHODS: We queried the 1999-2018 NHANES database for adults diagnosed with obesity-related cancers (colorectal, non-colorectal gastrointestinal, uterine, breast). We classified early and late-onset cancer based on a diagnosis age of < 50 and ≥ 50 years, respectively. Propensity-weighted analysis was used to compare prior historical BMIs between the matched groups. RESULTS: After weighing, we included 2,966,528 patients with obesity-related cancers, 846,211 (28%) of which were < 50 years. In the matched analysis, 69.1% of early-onset CRC cases were diagnosed as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) before cancer diagnosis, compared to 47.2% of late-onset cases (p < 0.03). Similarly, a higher percentage of adults with other early-onset gastrointestinal cancers had prior obesity as compared to the late-onset cohort (70.3% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.0002). BMI showed a trend toward higher values at ages 20-24 for early-onset CRC and 30-34 for other gastrointestinal cancers. In contrast, later-onset CRC and other gastrointestinal cancers exhibited higher BMI values at later ages (30-34 and 35-39, respectively). Early-onset uterine cancer was linked to a higher BMI compared to later-onset cancer (34.0 vs. 31.1 kg/m2, p < 0.0001), with a trend towards a higher BMI before 19 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Our nationally representative data reveal that higher and earlier body fatness in adulthood associates with early-onset gastrointestinal and uterine cancers. These findings underscore the importance of intensifying efforts to combat early-life obesity.

Rising Rates of Severe Obesity in Adults Younger Than 50 Correspond to Rise in Hospitalizations for Non-malignant Gastrointestinal Disease.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer incidence is rising in adults < 50 years old, possibly due to obesity. Non-malignant colorectal conditions are understudied in this population. We hypothesize that developing severe obesity in young adulthood also corresponds with increased hospitalization rates for non-malignant colorectal conditions. METHODS: We examined annual percent change (APC) in the prevalence of obesity in adults < 50 using the 2009-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using the 2010-2014 Nationwide Readmission Database, we then compared yearly hospitalization trends for various gastrointestinal conditions and their outcomes in adults < 50 with severe obesity vs. no obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity increased in adults < 50 years in 2009-2014. This increase was most pronounced for severe obesity (APC of + 12.8%). The rate of patients with severe obesity < 50 who were admitted for gastrointestinal diseases has increased by 7.76% per year in 2010-2014 (p < 0.001). This increase was > 10% per year for colorectal conditions such Clostridium difficile infections (APC + 17.3%, p = 0.002), inflammatory bowel disease (APC + 13.1%, p = 0.001), and diverticulitis (APC + 12.7%, p = 0.002). The hospitalization rate for chronic liver diseases and acute pancreatitis also increased by 12.2% and 10.0% per year, respectively (p < 0.01). In contrast, young adults without obesity had lower hospitalization rate for most gastrointestinal diseases. Furthermore, adults with no obesity had lower mortality rates for appendicitis, diverticulitis, pancreatitis and chronic liver diseases than adults with severe obesity. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that increased adiposity in young adults is associated with more hospitalization and worse outcomes for infectious/inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions. Future prevention strategies are warranted to ameliorate these trends.

Hospital Trends of Acute Pancreatitis During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to changes in individuals' behaviors and healthcare delivery. We examined the impact of these changes on the rates and clinical course of acute pancreatitis (AP). METHODS: Hospitalizations for AP from March 1 through August 31 in 2019 (baseline group) and the same period in 2020 (pandemic group) were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for demographics and outcomes. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty subjects (315 admissions) were identified in 2019 and 237 subjects (264 admissions) in 2020. Subjects in the pandemic group were more likely to have systemic inflammatory response syndrome (40% vs 25%, P < 0.01), pancreatic necrosis (14% vs 10%, P = 0.03), and persistent organ failure (17% vs 9%, P = 0.01) compared with prepandemic. There was no difference in etiology of AP. A multivariable model indicates that increased comorbidities, prior pancreatitis, pancreatic necrosis, and prescription of opiates at discharge were associated with 30-day readmissions during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer patients were admitted for AP during the pandemic, suggesting that patients with milder symptoms avoided hospital interaction. Practices followed during the pandemic, especially avoidance of hospitalization and improved efficiency of hospital management, may reduce the burden of pancreatitis care in the future.

Bariatric Surgery Is Associated with a Recent Temporal Increase in Colorectal Cancer Resections, Most Pronounced in Adults Below 50 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer incidence is rising in adults < 50 years old, possibly due to obesity. Having bariatric surgery (BRS) should hypothetically reduce this trend, but data are limited. This study compared trends of colorectal cancer (CRC) versus other obesity-related gastrointestinal cancers (OGCs) between morbidly obese and post-BRS subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study investigated OGC resection trends using the 2006-2013 National Inpatient Sample. Patients with prior BRS and non-BRS controls with body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2 were included (n = 30,279 total). We divided OGCs into CRC and non-CRC OGCs (esophageal, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas). We calculated OGC resection trends in patients < 50 and ≥ 50 years old using the average annual percent change (AAPC). RESULTS: BRS patients with OGCs were younger (59.3 vs 62.3 years old), with more female gender (77.4% vs 57.1%) and White race (72.6% vs 67%) compared with controls (p < 0.05). The number of CRC resections increased across all ages in 2006-2013, especially rectal cancer for BRS patients (AAPC + 19.8%, p = 0.04). The steepest rise in early-onset CRC resections was after BRS versus a lesser increase in morbid obesity controls (AAPC + 18.7% and + 13.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). In contrast, non-CRC OGCs increased in our controls but not post-BRS. In a sensitivity analysis, estimated CRC incidence trends also increased post-BRS despite adjusting for increasing BRS prevalence. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that bariatric surgery is associated with a persistent increase in early-onset CRC trends. Studies are warranted to validate our results and test the impact of bariatric surgery on early-onset CRC biological mechanisms.

Rising Incidence of Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults Corresponds With Increasing Surgical Resections in Obese Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Strong evidence links obesity to esophageal cancer (EC), gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and pancreatic cancer (PC). However, national-level studies testing the link between obesity and recent temporal trends in the incidence of these cancers are lacking. METHODS: We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) to identify the incidence of EC, GC, CRC, and PC. Cancer surgeries stratified by obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m) were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). We quantified trends in cancer incidence and resections in 2002-2013, across age groups, using the average annual percent change (AAPC). RESULTS: The incidence of CRC and GC increased in the 20-49 year age group (AAPC +1.5% and +0.7%, respectively, P < 0.001) and across all ages for PC. Conversely, the incidence of CRC and GC decreased in patients 50 years or older and all adults for EC. According to the NIS, the number of patients with obesity undergoing CRC resections increased in all ages (highest AAPC was +15.3% in the 18-49 year age group with rectal cancer, P = 0.047). This trend was opposite to a general decrease in nonobese patients undergoing CRC resections. Furthermore, EC, GC, and PC resections only increased in adults 50 years or older with obesity. DISCUSSION: Despite a temporal rise in young-onset CRC, GC, and PC, we only identify a corresponding increase in young adults with obesity undergoing CRC resections. These data support a hypothesis that the early onset of obesity may be shifting the risk of CRC to a younger age.