Effectiveness, tolerability, and pattern of liraglutide treatment use for weight loss: a mixed-methods cohort study

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide including in Saudi Arabia. This study assessed the effectiveness and tolerability of 3 mg liraglutide for weight management of patients attending the Obesity Clinic at a secondary care university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is an observational, single-center cohort study including a retrospective chart review to assess the effectiveness, and a to investigate the pattern of use and tolerability. All adult patients initiated on 3 mg liraglutide for weight loss were included (July -December 2019). The primary outcomes were mean weight change and mean BMI change after four months of using the medication. Secondary outcomes included tolerability and pattern of use. The study enrolled 105 patients, using a per-protocol analysis to assess effectiveness, only 36 (34.3%) had complete data until the fourth month from baseline. The mean difference in weight was 5.92± 5.55(p-value < 0.001). The percent change in body weight was -5.76% (range 2.17% - 22.69%). Half of the patients (n=18) lost > 5% of their body weight. There was a significant reduction in BMI from baseline (2.24 kg/m2; range 1.56 — 2.91, p-value < 0.001). Of the 65 patients who responded to the cross-sectional survey, 55.4% continued using liraglutide for 4 months. The reason for stopping liraglutide was mostly side effects (38.5%). The use of diet and/or exercise remained constant across the 4 months at 50%. In this retrospective evaluation, 3.0 mg of once-daily liraglutide resulted in a clinically significant reduction in body weight, with no serious side effects.