People who are thin are more likely to die after surgery than people who are overweight. People with body mass index (BMI) 23 or less 40 percent more likely to die within one month after the surgical procedure compared with those who have a BMI between 26 and 29.
BMI is an indicator of body fatness. BMI index below 18.5 is considered underweight, between 18.5 to 24.9 is normal weight, between 25 and 29.9 is categorized as overweight and above 30 is considered obese.
"The findings suggest that a low BMI should be considered as an important risk factor for death after surgery. Physicians should consider the thinness factor when planning treatment of patients after surgery and should inform patients about the risks thin," said Stukenborg as reported by LiveScience.
In a recent study published in the journal Archives of Surgery, George Stukenborg of School of Medicine University of Virginia, and colleagues analyzed more than 189 500 patients from 183 surgical centers between 2005 and 2006.
The researchers divided the patients into five groups based on BMI. They calculate the risk of death of each group compared with the mortality risk group of patients who have a BMI between 26.3 to 29.7.
About 3,200 of those patients died within 30 days after surgery, most of whom had a BMI of 23.1 is less. A total of 2.8 percent died within 30 days, whereas patients with a BMI between 26.3 and 29.7 only 1.5 percent of the deceased. Whereas among patients who are overweight and obese patients, or severely obese, the researchers found no difference in risk of death.
Several previous studies have found that obesity did not increase the risk of patients died after surgery. In fact, some research suggests that being overweight or obese in early stages of being actually protect patients from death after surgery.
"Unfortunately, this study can not tell us why thin people are at increased risk of death after surgery. One theory is that patients may be weaker," said Stukenborg.
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