Changes in Central 24-h Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Hemodynamics 12 Months After Bariatric Surgery: the BARIHTA Study

Background Weight loss is associated to blood pressure (BP) reduction in obese patients. There is no information on central 24-h BP changes after bariatric surgery (BS). Methods and Results In this study, we analyzed changes in 24-h BP 12 months following BS, with intermediate evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 months, in severely obese adults. The primary endpoint was aortic (central) 24-h systolic BP changes. Circadian BP patterns and hypertension resolution were also assessed. As secondary endpoints, we analyze changes in central 24-h diastolic BP as well as in all office and ambulatory peripheral BP parameters. Obese adults scheduled for BS as routine clinical care were recruited. We included 62 patients (39% with hypertension, 77% women, body mass index, 42.6 ± 5.5 kg/m 2 ). Reduction in body weight was mean (IQR) 30.5% (26.2–34.4) 1 year after BS. Mean (95% CI) change in central 24-h systolic BP was − 3.1 mmHg (− 5.5 to − 0.7), p = 0.01 after adjustment for age, sex, and baseline hypertensive status. BP parameter changes were different between normotensives and hypertensives. Mean (95% CI) change in central 24-h systolic BP was − 5.2 mmHg (− 7.7 to − 2.7), p < 0.001, in normotensives and − 0.5 mmHg (− 5.1 to 4.0), p = 0.818, in hypertensives. There was a remission of hypertension in 48% of patients. Most patients had a reduced dipping pattern, similarly at baseline and 12 months after BS. Conclusions Among patients with severe obesity, there was a substantial central 24-h systolic BP decrease 12 months following BS. Importantly, this change was observed in those patients with normal BP at baseline. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03115502