Lunger, LukasLukasLungerMelmer, AndreasAndreasMelmerSturm, WolfgangWolfgangSturmLamina, ClaudiaClaudiaLaminaTschoner, AlexanderAlexanderTschonerEngl, JuliaJuliaEnglHönlinger, ArminArminHönlingerEngler, ClemensClemensEnglerWilleit, PeterPeterWilleitKiechl, StefanStefanKiechlWilleit, JohannJohannWilleitÖfner, DietmarDietmarÖfnerWykypiel, HeinzHeinzWykypielLaimer, MarkusMarkusLaimer0000-0002-7622-0822Tilg, HerbertHerbertTilgEbenbichler, ChristophChristophEbenbichler2024-10-112024-10-112023-03https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/87956BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for patients with severe obesity and improves parameters of cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease. Carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT) is a surrogate measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. Previous studies showed short to mid-term arrest and even regression of C‑IMT progression following bariatric surgery. We aimed to investigate the long-term effect of weight loss on C‑IMT progression 10 years after bariatric surgery in comparison to a population-based control cohort. METHODS In total, 21 eligible patients were examined preoperatively, at 5 and 10 years after bariatric surgery. Anthropometric parameters, plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), insulin, and glucose were assessed at all three study visits. C‑IMT was measured via B‑mode scans of the common carotid artery. C‑IMT progression was measured in an age-matched and BMI-matched cohort selected from the population-based Bruneck study to compare with changes in C‑IMT progression after bariatric surgery. RESULTS C‑IMT remained stable over the 10-year observation period after bariatric surgery. The control cohort showed a significant C‑IMT progression over 10 years. The difference in C‑IMT progression over 10 years was significant (p < 0.01) between both cohorts. CONCLUSION Weight loss induced by bariatric surgery halts the natural progression of C‑IMT over a 10-year observation period.enBariatric surgery Carotid intima-media thickness Carotid wall thickness progression Subclinical atherosclerosis Weight loss600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1735903620579910.1007/s00508-022-02090-3