title: Effect of Orlistat in obese patients with heart failure: a pilot study.
abstract: Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization. Obesity is increasingly common and is a major public health problem. The aim of this study is to assess whether obese patients with heart failure can benefit from losing weight via an orlistat-assisted diet. This randomized clinical trial included obese patients with ejection fractions < or =40%. Orlistat and diet counseling were compared with diet counseling alone. Twenty-one consecutive obese patients with heart failure were recruited. Significant improvement in 6-minute walk test (45.8 m; 95% confidence interval, 5.2-86.4 m; p=0.031), functional class (-0.6+/-0.5, p=0.014), weight loss (-8.55 kg; 95% confidence interval, -13.0 to -4.1 kg; p<0.001) and also significant decreases in total cholesterol (p=0.017), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.03), and triglycerides (p=0.036) were observed in the orlistat group. Orlistat can promote significant weight loss and symptoms of relief in obese patients with heart failure, as measured by 6-minute walk test and functional capacity. The lipid profile improved. Orlistat was safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street H147, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4W7, Canada.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beck-da-Silva
authors.forename: Lyall
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Haissam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008049:Lipase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077403:Orlistat; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D007783:Lactones; D000077403:Orlistat; D008049:Lipase