Lowest 30-day all-cause mortality rate seen for older adults categorized as overweight, while highest rate seen for those with underweight<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
THURSDAY, Aug. 28, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Older adults (aged 65 years and older) with overweight who undergo elective surgery have a lower rate of 30-day all-cause mortality compared with those with a normal body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online Aug. 26 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Cecilia Canales, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined whether higher BMI in older adults undergoing major elective surgery is associated with rates of all-cause mortality in an observational cohort study. A total of 414 older adults (mean age, 75.9 years) undergoing major elective surgery were included.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the prevalence of frailty and prefrailty was 24.2 and 37.0 percent, respectively. Within the cohort, the overall 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 11.0 percent. The lowest 30-day all-cause mortality rate was seen for patients categorized as overweight (BMI, 25.0 to 29.9 kg\/m2<\/sup>), with a significant risk reduction compared with patients with a normal BMI (0.8 versus 18.8 percent; odds ratio, 0.03). After adjustment for potential confounders, the association remained significant (odds ratio, 0.14). The highest 30-day all-cause mortality rate was seen for patients categorized as underweight (BMI <18.5 kg\/m2<\/sup>; 75.0 percent).<\/p>\n “These findings challenge traditional preoperative guidelines emphasizing achievement of normal weight before surgery for older adults,” the authors write.<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to the medical device industry; a second author disclosed ties to the publishing industry.<\/p>\n