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Five-Year Real-World Outcomes Show Over 50% Lower Risk of Kidney Failure, Major Cardiovascular Events, Nearly 75% Lower Mortality
SAN ANTONIO – May 5, 2026 – Metabolic and bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery, dramatically improves outcomes for patients with obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD), significantly reducing the risk of kidney failure, major cardiovascular events and death, according to new research* presented here today at the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (#ASMBS2026).
CKD patients who had metabolic and bariatric surgery cut their risk in half for developing end stage kidney disease (5.9% vs. 11.9%), were about 60% less likely to need dialysis (4.1% vs. 9%), and more than twice as likely to receive a kidney transplant (4.6% vs. 2.2%). Heart attack and stroke risk also dropped by nearly half (15.5% vs. 27.7%), and the mortality rate plummeted by over 75% (5% vs. 16%).
In the real-world analysis of more than 8,900 patients with obesity and CKD, researchers compared the five-year outcomes of patients who had either sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass to patients of similar health status who did not have surgery. Data from 2010 to 2020 was obtained from the TriNetX Research Network electronic health record database.
“These findings show metabolic and bariatric surgery doesn’t just treat obesity, it fundamentally alters the course of chronic kidney disease and should be considered earlier in the disease process,” said lead study author Jerry Dang, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS, FASMBS, Associate Professor of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. “With earlier intervention, we see slower disease progression, fewer patients advancing to kidney failure, better cardiovascular outcomes and greater access to life-saving transplants.”
CKD affects about 35.5 million Americans, or about 1 in 7 adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is a leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are primary risk factors for the disease.
“The survival benefit of surgery patients observed in this study is extraordinary but not surprising,” said Richard M. Peterson, MD, MPH, FASMBS, President, ASMBS, who was not involved in the study. “These procedures are not simply about weight loss, they’re about changing the trajectory of chronic disease, preserving organ function and saving lives.”
About Weight-Loss Surgery and Obesity
Metabolic and bariatric or weight-loss surgery such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy have been shown to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity. The operations improve or resolve diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure and lead to significant and durable weight loss. Bariatric surgery has a safety profile comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed procedures in the U.S., including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement. According to the ASMBS, less than 1% of those eligible for it receive it in any given year. About 270,000 procedures were performed in 2023, the latest estimates available.
About ASMBS
The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.
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*LONG-TERM RENAL AND SURVIVAL OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH OBESITY AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE FOLLOWING METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY: A TRINETX COHORT STUDY Pattharasai Kachornvitaya Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Xinlei Zhu Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Melissa V. Wills Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Valentin Mocanu Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Salvador Navarrete Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Ricard Corcelles Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Matthew Kroh Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Andrew Strong Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Jerry Dang Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA — Abstract ID: 4520