GLP-1 agonists induce weight loss in diabetic patients with obesity | Latest news for Doctors, Nurses and Pharmacists
Results of a real-world study suggest that initiation of a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist at standard glycemic control doses may lead to modest weight loss over 72 weeks in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes .
Weight loss achieved with standard doses of GLP-1 agonists in real-world patients with type 2 diabetes has not been validated before. To address this question, a group of researchers conducted this retrospective cohort study to describe the percent change in body weight 72 weeks after initiation of GLP-1 agonists.
Electronic health record data from patients receiving care in a large health system was used to identify participants. A total of 2,405 nonpregnant adults (mean age 48 years, 53% women) who were first-time users of a GLP-1 agonist between 2011 and 2018 were included.
We used linear mixed models with an artificial level of random intercept controlling for baseline variables associated with missing weight data to estimate percent weight change during follow-up.
Eligible participants had an average body mass index of 37 kg/m2 The average baseline weight was 238 lbs.Mean percent weight loss from 1.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]0.6-1.5) decreased to 2.2% (95% CI, 1.7-2.6) at 8 weeks after GLP-1 agonist assignment and 72 weeks after GLP-1 administration (quadratic trend p<0.001).
Most notably, one third of the patients lost at least 5% of their body weight at 72 weeks.
