Bariatric Surgery Lowers Risk of Serious Heart Problems and Death in Patients Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Bariatric surgery, which helps people lose weight, appears to significantly lower the risk of serious heart problems and death for those who are obese and suffer from moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, according to a recent study. This research, known as the MOSAIC study, found that people who had the surgery reduced their risk of major cardiovascular issues by 42% and their overall risk of death by 37% compared to those who didn’t undergo the surgery.

Dr. Alexander Abkin, a bariatric surgeon in New Jersey, explains that the importance of this study lies in its focus on obesity, which is a major cause of sleep apnea. “Obesity is the root cause of sleep apnea, so addressing it directly with weight loss surgery can have a big impact on overall health,” Dr. Abkin says.

Sleep apnea affects about 1 billion people worldwide, but effective treatments have been lacking. While devices like CPAP machines can help manage symptoms, they haven’t been shown to significantly improve overall heart health or reduce the risk of serious heart events. Additionally, there are no approved medications specifically for treating sleep apnea.

To understand how weight loss surgery benefits people with sleep apnea, researchers looked at data from 13,657 adults with obesity and sleep apnea who were treated at the Cleveland Clinic between 2004 and 2018. They compared outcomes for 970 patients who had bariatric surgery with 12,687 who were treated using other methods. The study found that after 10 years, the rate of major heart problems was 27% in the surgery group, compared to 35.6% in the non-surgery group. Similarly, the rate of death was 9.1% in the surgery group versus 12.5% in the non-surgery group.

Dr. Abkin highlights that for people with severe obesity and sleep apnea, losing weight through diet and exercise alone might not be enough. “Bariatric surgery can be a very effective and long-lasting solution for these patients, and it might also help in improving insurance coverage for such treatments,” he says.

Overall, the findings underscore the significant benefits of weight loss surgery for people with obesity and sleep apnea, offering a potential new avenue for improving their health.