Real‐World Clinical Effectiveness of Liraglutide 3.0 mg for Weight Management in Canada

Abstract

Objective Real‐world clinical effectiveness of liraglutide 3.0 mg, in combination with diet and exercise, was investigated 4 and 6 months post initiation. Changes in absolute and percent body weight were examined from baseline. Methods A cohort of liraglutide 3.0 mg initiators in 2015 and 2016 was identified from six Canadian weight‐management clinics. Post initiation values at 4 and 6 months were compared with baseline values using a paired t test. Results The full cohort consisted of 311 participants, with 210 in the ≥ 4‐month persistence group and 167 in the ≥ 6‐month persistence group. Average baseline BMI was 40.7 kg/m2, and weight was 114.8 kg. There was a significant change in body weight 6 and 4 months after initiation of treatment in persistent subjects (≥ 6‐month: −8.0 kg, P < 0.001; ≥ 4‐month: −7.0 kg, P < 0.001) and All Subjects, regardless of persistence (−7.3 kg; P < 0.001). Percentage change in body weight from baseline was −7.1% in the ≥ 6‐month group and −6.3% in the ≥ 4‐month group, and All Subjects lost 6.5% body weight. Of participants in the ≥ 6‐month group, 64.10% and 34.5% lost ≥ 5% and > 10% body weight, respectively. Conclusions In a real‐world setting, liraglutide 3.0 mg, when combined with diet and exercise, was associated with clinically meaningful weight loss.

Clinical effectiveness of liraglutide on weight loss in South Koreans

“…With respect to other studies, a randomized controlled trial, a Spanish real-world data study, and a Canadian real-world data study reported percentages of patients with ≥5% weight loss of 63.2%, 64.7%, and 64.1% and percentages of patients who achieved ≥10% weight loss of 33.1%, 20.0%, and 34.5%, respectively. [ 10 , 12 , 19 ] In our study, 61.54% and 17.16% of subjects showed ≥5% and ≥10% body weight reduction, respectively, at their final visit within our study period. Thus, weight loss was evident in real-world South Korean populations as well, which is consistent with clinical trial settings and real-world Western data.…”

“…In this study, the baseline average BMI ± SD was 30.8 ± 3.5 kg/m 2 , which was lower than that in previous studies of liraglutide for Western obese populations, which had an average BMI over 38. [ 10 – 12 ] However, the data about the effect of liraglutide in slightly obese patients, such as those with obesity class I (BMI 30.0 – 34.9) and overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), were not clearly defined. In Asian populations, people with relatively lower BMI values can be obese; thus, the international classification of obesity defines BMI ≥ 25 as obese for Asian populations.…”

“…The effects of liraglutide combined with diet and exercise have also been demonstrated using real-world data in Canada, with over 60% of the enrolled population losing more than 5% of their body weight. [ 12 ]…”

Liraglutide for overweight and obesity

“…Percentage change in body weight was 7.1% in the ≥ six‐month group and 6.3% in the ≥ four‐month group. Moreover, in the ≥ six‐month group, 64.1% and 34.5% lost ≥5% and >10% body weight, respectively 28 . Similar reports were also obtained from an Italian cohort of 93 non‐diabetic obese and overweight individuals.…”

Real‐world persistence with liraglutide 3.0 mg for weight management and the SaxendaCare® patient support program

“…This evidence can be sourced from databases, patient medical chart reviews and registries 12 . A RWE study of data from six weight management clinics in Canada, showing that patients on liraglutide 3.0 mg lost a mean of 7.1% (standard deviation [SD] 5.4%) body weight after 6 months of treatment, has been previously reported by this research team 13 . The current study reports a secondary analysis that expands on medication persistence findings and investigates the associations between enrollment in the patient support program SaxendaCare® and both persistence with liraglutide 3.0 mg and weight loss.…”