Diabetic Status, Advanced Age, and Hispanic Ethnicity Predict Poorer Weight Loss in Patients with Obesity on Semaglutide
Abstract
Objective: Define demographic and clinical predictors of weight loss outcomes in patients with obesity prescribed semaglutide in real-world practice.
Methods: We identified 163 patients with elevated BMI (>25 kg/m2) taking weekly semaglutide for at least 12 months seen at a gastroenterology-based, multidisciplinary obesity clinic in New York City. The primary outcome was percent total weight loss (%TWL) after 12 months on weekly injectable semaglutide. Secondary outcomes included % of patients achieving > 5% TWL and clinical factors affecting treatment course including gastrointestinal side effects (GI SE), dosing achieved, and number of provider visits.
Results: In total, 163/294 (55.4%) patients prescribed semaglutide during the study period continued it for at least 12 months. Mean weight loss achieved at this timepoint was 8.1 kg +/- 18.5 kg (8.1% +/- 8.3% TWL). Patient-identified Hispanic ethnicity (95% CI -6.82, -0.55, p=0.02), history of type 2 diabetes (95% CI 0.74, 5.76, p=0.01), and age > 60 years (95% CI -14.76, -2.41, p=0.007) were associated with reduced weight loss on univariable analysis. Development of GI SE (95% CI 1.86, 3.36, p=0.57) and provider visit number were not associated with weight loss outcomes (95% CI 0.15, 0.28, p=0.56). Patient-identified Hispanic ethnicity was independently associated with failure to achieve 5% TWL on multi-variable regression (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.74).
Conclusion: This study suggests weight loss with weekly semaglutide was influenced by specific factors including diabetes status, older age, and Hispanic ethnicity in our real-world clinic, though further research is needed to define prognosticators of weight loss across populations.
Authors: Nicole C Cornet, Adam P Buckholz, Michele Yeung, Sonal Kumar, Lindsay Rogers, Patrick T Magahis, Reem Z Sharaiha, Tibor I Krisko, Brett E Fortune, Carolyn A Newberry
Journal: Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists