The obesity as a factor associated with death due to late complications of surgical procedures

Objective: To evaluate mortality rates and profile of deaths that mentioned “obesity” and “abnormal reaction or late complication, by medical procedures, without mention of an accident at the time of the procedure”, considered as avoidable causes. Method: Cross-sectional study of deaths obtained in DATASUS in the years of 2004 and 2014 (Minas Gerais state) that mentioned both causes. Descriptive evaluations were performed, as well as Student’s t, χ2, Fisher exact and Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney tests. Results: In 2004, the number of deaths by both causes was 25 (women) and 13 (men). In 2014, they were, respectively, 43 (72% increase) and 25 (92% increase), with predominance of circulatory (men) and digestive diseases (women, increased from 3 to 10 deaths). The mortality rate raised in this period: from 0.19 0.32 / 100 thousand (men 15–84 years); from 0.39 to 0.68 / 100 thousand (women 15–79). For women, there was a percentage increase in deaths occurred in a hospital (p=0.031). The mean age of these deaths varied from 48.4 (SD=15.5) for women in 2014 to 51.4 (SD=14.7) for men in the same year. Conclusion: Obesity was associated with increase in mortality rate, mainly related to circulatory and digestive diseases. The occurrence in women before the age of 40, as well as these preventable causes, call our attention. Obese women who require surgery need special attention. It is possible that there is an association with bariatric surgeries, which requires further investigation.