Risk for cancer after bariatric surgery compared with the general population: a nationwide matched cohort study
Main finding · New onset of cancer (all-cancer)Result — go to the resultIncidence rate ratio 1.03 95% CI 0.99–1.07Authors' conclusion
All-cancer incidence risk was similar between patients who underwent MBS and the general population. Although breast and skin cancer risk was lower among MBS patients compared with controls, MBS patients had a greater risk for multiple cancer types. Thus, patients who have undergone MBS should continue recommended cancer screening and clinically approved work-up for cancer symptoms as recommended for the general population.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in Sweden from 2007 to 2020 and matched general population controlsmatched cohort
- Participants
- 68,424 vs 640,944
- Exposure
- MBS vs matched general population controls
- MBSn = 68,424
- Controlsn = 640,944reference
- Outcome
- New incidence of cancer
Methodological detailsmatched on age, sex, area of residence, general population controls
- Matched on age, sex, area of residence
- General population controls
Main finding
New onset of cancer (all-cancer)
Incidence rate ratio
1.03
95% CI 0.99–1.07
MBSvs Controls
IRR 1.03 (95% CI 0.99–1.07)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | IRR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Breast cancer in women | 0.78 (0.71–0.86) | |
| Nonmelanoma skin cancer in men and women | 0.71 (0.59–0.85) | |
| Melanoma skin cancer in men and women | 0.77 (0.68–0.87) | |
| 0.512Incidence rate ratio (log scale) |
Other cancer types
- Increased risk remained with MBS vs controls for colon, liver, pancreatic, corpus uteri and renal cancer, malignant meningioma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Original publication
Risk for cancer after bariatric surgery compared with the general population: a nationwide matched cohort study. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 23 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →