Effectiveness, Safety and Therapeutic Adherence of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide for Weight Management in Real Practice: An Observational Study Volume 3 - Issue 2

Santiago Tofé ^1,2*, Iñaki Argüelles^1,2, Guillermo Serra¹, Mayte Izco³ and Juan Ramón Urgelés¹

• ¹Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition. University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• ²Clínica Juaneda and Policlínica Miramar, Juaneda Hospitals Group, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• ³Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Received:April 05, 2021;   Published: April 14, 2021

Corresponding author: Santiago Tofé, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University Hospital Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

DOI: 10.32474/ADO.2021.03.000161

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Abstract

Aims: To evaluate in a real practice setting effectiveness, safety and adherence to weekly subcutaneous semaglutide for weight reduction, along with diet and lifestyle modifications in obese/overweighted patients attending an Obesity Unit.
Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, 367 patients (mean age 50.25 years, 78.36% female, mean baseline body mass index 32.39 kg/m2) were followed for 10.7 months (median) after initiation of semaglutide. Up to 24.25% of patients were previously on GLP-1 analogue therapy (mostly liraglutide) and 36.26% used background oral medication for weight loss.
Results: At final office visit patients averaged a weight loss of 7.97±3.42 kg (9.13±3.86% baseline body weight) and 88.07% and 30.27% of patients had achieved a≥5% and ≥10% weight loss, respectively, as compared to baseline body weight. Up to 61.19% and 33.46% of patients maintained 0.5 and 1.0 mg dose, respectively and 86.18% of patients persisted on sc semaglutide by last office visit. Nausea and abdominal pain were reported by 12.53% of patients with no severe adverse events. Background antiobesity medication did not affect weight loss and patients on previous GLP-1 analogue therapy lost 1.43 kg less than naïve patients (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Out-of-label weekly administration of sc semaglutide 0.5 to 1.0 mg resulted in a significant, safe and affordable weight loss in a pragmatic setting without reimbursement of treatment cost. Magnitude of weight loss and safety profile was in line with preliminary data from a phase 2 trial, although this will need to be confirmed by an ongoing phase 3 development programme.

Keywords: Observational Study; Obesity Therapy; GLP-1 Analogue; Semaglutide; Appetite Control Antiobesity Drug

Abstract| Introduction| Patients and Method| Statistical Analysis| Results| Discussion| Conclusion| Acknowledgements| References|