Effect of body mass index on early clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery

Background: there are several reports on the outcomes of cardiac surgery in relation to body mass index. Some concluded that obesity did not increase morbidity or mortality after cardiac surgery, whereas others demonstrated that obesity was a predictor of both morbidity and mortality. Methods: this was a retrospective study of 3370 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to body mass index. The 4 groups were compared in terms of preoperative, operative, and postoperative characteristics. Results: obese patients had a significantly younger mean age. Diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were significantly more common in obese patients. The crossclamp time was significantly longer in the underweight group. Reoperation for bleeding, and pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and renal complications were significantly more common in the underweight group. Wound complications were significantly more frequent in the obese group. Mortality was inversely proportional to body mass index. The adjusted odds ratios of the early clinical outcomes demonstrated a higher risk of wound complications in overweight and obese patients. Conclusion: body mass index has no effect on early clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery, except for a higher risk of wound complications in overweight and obese patients. © 2013 The Author(s).