Patients with Low BMI Struggle to Survive Life-saving Surgery
Recent Study Reveals Patients with Low BMI at Higher Risk of Mortality Post Surgery
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November 22, 2011A recent study published in the Archives of Surgery reveals that patients with low body mass index could have a higher risk of 30-day mortality following surgery, reports Becker's.The researchers conducted the study at 183 sites to determine if there was an association between BMI and mortality. Results showed that 3,245 of 189,533 patients who underwent general and vascular surgery died within 30 days of the procedure. Patients with a BMI lower than 23.1 showed 40 percent more risk for mortality compared to patients in middle range BMI of 26.3-29.7.Although the statistics are significant, the researchers note that the strength of the association between BMI and surgery survival depends upon the type of treatment.
