Does Bariatric Surgery Reduce Risk for Birth Defects?

Obesity has been associated with pregnancy complications stemming in part from inadequate maternal glucose control. To evaluate the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on risk for birth defects in a subsequent pregnancy, Swedish researchers conducted a case-control study using 7 years of linked national data. Controls were matched by presurgical body-mass index (BMI), diabetes, prior birth defects, and a propensity score including maternal age, smoking, alcohol, substance use, parity, and medication use.

Prior to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, mean BMI was 43.5. Median time from surgery to pregnancy was 1.6 years, with a mean weight loss of 40 kg; use of diabetic medications dropped from 9.7% before surgery to 1.5% within the 6 mo…