Assessment of patients using liraglutid for obesity treatment

Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease that increasingly affects the population and is associated with many morbidities. According to TURDEP-I, which is one of the most comprehensive epidemiological studies in Turkey, obesity prevalence in 1998 was 22.3%, while 12 years later in TURDEP-II, which was performed in the same locations, this rate increased to 35%. Although the primary method chosen in clinical practice is lifestylechange, adequate results cannot be obtained, especially in some morbid obese patients. One of the few drugs licensed in obesity, liraglutide has been used in our country since May-2018 with a dose of 3 mg, and it is one of the promising drugs in the treatment of obesity. In our study, the data of patients who were started liraglutide for obesity were examined. The sample was designed as a retrospective cohort, consisted of patients who applied to Başkent University Endocrinology Outpatient Clinics between May-2018 and July-2020 with overweight, who's BMI was 27 Kg/m2, who was started on liraglutide treatment and who used the drug for at least 1 month. The demographic information and medical history of the patients were scanned retrospectively. Antopometric measurements, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and laboratory parameters of the patients were recorded at the beginning of liraglutide treatment and in the following visits. Before and after treatment data were compared. One hundred patients who used the drug for more than 1 month and had regular follow-ups were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 46.3±11.5 years (18-70 years). 80% of the research group (80 patients) consisted of women. An average weight loss of 9.9±6.7 Kg (0.4-34.7 Kg), in 4.1±2.7 months (1-15 months) was achieved. The BMI decreased 3.65±2.4 kg/m2. Patients whose treatment was discontinued were called back for a medical control where their general health status and weight status was checked. Patients gained an average of 4.5±4.7 Kg weight in an average of 11.4±6.5 months (1-26 months) after the treatment was discontinued, and their BMI increased by 1.6±1.7 kg/m2. Men used the drug for a shorter period (4.4 vs. 3.2 months, p=0.013), but the decrease in BMI was similar (4 vs. 3.6 kg/m2, p=0.436) and the weight gained after the drug was discontinued was also found to be similar (1.7 vs 1.6 kg/m2, p=0.867). During the study period, 79% of the patients lost 5% or more, 42% lost 10% and v more, 19% lost 15% or more, 6% lost 20% or more. We performed a ROC analysis for those who lost weight more than 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, and the area under the curve of the duration of drug use only was significant. Liraglutide is one of the limited number of drugs we have in the treatment of obesity and our results show that it is effective in weight-loss in accordance with the literature. Although patients regained wheight after drug discontinuation, weight regain was found to be less than the half of the initial weight loss during approximately 1 year of follow-up after drug discontinuation. Duration, average dose and maximum tolerable drug dose appear to be the most important indicators determining the weight loss effect. Keywords: Obesity, Liraglutide, Weight Management, Retrospective