title: Off-label antiobesity treatment in patients without diabetes with GLP-1 agonists in clinical practice.
abstract: The aim of the work was to investigate whether continuation of treatment, side effects, and effect on weight loss of GLP-1 agonists in obese patients without diabetes are equally promising in daily clinical-practice-settings compared to controlled clinical trials. Obese patients without diabetes of our interdisciplinary obesity centre were treated off-label with GLP-1-agonists for different time periods. Application was started with low-dose and increased if side effects were tolerable. Monthly costs were € 125 for daily applications of 1.2 mg liraglutide or 10 μg exenatide twice daily. Data were obtained by telephone interviews about baseline characteristics, weight loss, sensation of satiation, duration of therapy, side effects, and reasons for discontinuation. Of 43 included cases (5 males, mean age 43±11 years, mean weight 107±24 kg, mean excess weight 35±21 kg) 7 were treated with exenatide and 36 with liraglutide. Excess weight loss in linear regression models was 6.7% per month (p <0.05) under control of age, sex, initial weight, and type of GLP-1 analogue treatment and did not significantly differ between liraglutide and exenatide. Overall, 58% of patients reported side effects mostly concerning the gastrointestinal tract. Surprisingly no patient reported vomiting. One patient developed a severe pancreatitis. At time of telephone interview only 30.2% were continuing treatment. Mean treatment duration was 2.98±2.71 months. Common reasons for discontinuation of treatment were no/little effect on weight loss (27.9%), intolerable side effects (20.9%), or financial reasons (14%). GLP-1 agonist treatment in obese patients without diabetes also correlates with significant weight loss in clinical practice. However, side effects and discontinuation of treatment are common. Therefore, long-term effect on weight loss might not be as promising as suggested by data from clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department for Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Department for Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reining
authors.affiliation: Department for Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulze Zur Wiesch
authors.affiliation: Department for Neurosurgery, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.affiliation: Department for Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aberle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056687:Off-Label Use; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014688:Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms; D000069450:Liraglutide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000077270:Exenatide