Weight loss and persistence with liraglutide 3.0 mg by obesity class in the real‐world effectiveness study in Canada

Abstract

Summary Objective Liraglutide 3.0 mg is associated with clinically significant weight loss in clinical trials, but real‐world data are lacking. In this analysis, weight loss and persistence outcomes with liraglutide 3.0 mg were assessed across obesity classes, in a real‐world clinical setting. Methods Secondary analysis of an observational, retrospective study of liraglutide 3.0 mg for weight management (as adjunct to diet and exercise) at six Wharton Medical Clinics in Canada. Patients were categorized by body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) into obesity class I (BMI 30–34.9); class II (BMI 35–39.9); and class III (BMI ≥40). Change in weight, categorical weight loss, time to maintenance dose (defined as the time to reach the full liraglutide 3.0 mg maintenance dose) and persistence were assessed for each class and for differences between classes. Results Of 308 patients, 70 (22.7%) had obesity class I, 83 (26.9%) obesity class II and 155 (50.3%) obesity class III. Similar percentage change in weight was observed between obesity classes (mean [standard deviation, SD]: −7.0% [6.0], −6.6% [6.0] and −6.1% [5.0], respectively; p = .640), and similar proportions achieved ≥5% weight loss (60.4%, 62.0% and 55.3%, respectively; p = .717) at 6 months. Mean time to maintenance dose (SD) was 64.2 (56.4) d, 76.4 (56.3) d and 71.4 (54.5) d for obesity classes I, II and III, respectively (p = .509). Persistence with medication was also similar between obesity classes (p = .358). Conclusions These findings suggest that real‐world treatment with liraglutide 3.0 mg, regardless of obesity class, is associated with similar clinically significant weight loss, time to maintenance dose and medication persistence.

Adherence to and Dropout from Liraglutide 3.0 mg Obesity Treatment in a Real-World Setting

“…28% in the liraglutide groups, and the rate in the placebo groups was higher (26%-36%). 6,8,18,19 The dropout rate from liraglutide treatment was 57.4% at 7 months in Switzerland, 20 approximately 46% at 6 months in Canada, 21 and 58.2% at 6 months in the USA. 17 In our Korean study, the dropout rate was 39.7% at 4 months and 70.1% at 6 months.…”

Use of Liraglutide 3.0 mg for Weight Management in a Real-World Setting in Switzerland

“…Alternatively, the disparities between study results may be linked to differences in baseline characteristics, although a previous real-world study has indicated that Obes Facts 2021;14:568-576 DOI: 10.1159/000518325 the percentage weight loss with liraglutide is largely independent of baseline obesity class [11]. Mean baseline weight in the study population was 101.9 kg, which is somewhat lower than in previous real-world studies of liraglutide used in Spain (105.1 kg) [13] and Canada (114.8 kg) [9].…”

“…Observational studies of patients receiving liraglutide 3.0 mg in clinical practice in Canada [9][10][11][12], Spain [13], the United Arab Emirates (UAE) [14], and Italy [15] have shown significant weight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg. Weight loss was also observed in subgroups of patients who persisted with treatment for at least 4-7 months.…”

Selection of Antiobesity Medications Based on Phenotypes Enhances Weight Loss: A Pragmatic Trial in an Obesity Clinic

“…It is worth noting that there was persistent weight loss observed in this pragmatic trial in both groups of patients and that there was continued weight loss with AOM treatment administered for 12 months. A prior real‐world report of AOM efficacy has shown similar effects of continued weight loss at 6 months (44), which differs from larger randomized trials in which weight loss is typically seen in the first 3 months (1,5‐7). However, early response seems to also determine overall weight loss over 12 months in the phenotype‐guided approach to AOM treatment, as previously described in randomized trials (6,7).…”