Effect of liraglutide combined with metformin on weight loss in overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes and the influencing factors / 中华临床营养杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of liraglutide combined with metformin in the treatment of overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, and to analyze the factors influencing the response to liraglutide.Methods:Seventy-three overweight or obese patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes on metformin were selected and treated with liraglutide at 1.8 mg/d in addition to metformin at 1500 mg/d for 48 weeks. Relevant data were collected before and after treatment, including blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin, serum lipid, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment for β-cell function (HOMA-β) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Changes in metabolic markers, incidence of side effects, weight loss efficacy and corresponding influencing factors were evaluated.Results:After 48 weeks of treatment, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, blood lipid, waist circumference, hip circumference and BMI decreased significantly compared with baseline ( P < 0.05). The most common side effects were tolerable gastrointestinal adverse events. The average weight loss after the initial 4-week treatment was 3.99 kg, accounting for 48.8% of the total weight loss, and then the change displayed a more subdued trend during the remaining treatment period. After the 48-week treatment, 73.1% and 34.6% of the patients lost more than 5% and 10% of body weight, respectively. Absolute weight loss was positively correlated with baseline weight and weight loss within the initial 4-week treatment was an independent predictor of weight loss ≥ 5% at the 48th week. Conclusions:Liraglutide combined with metformin is safe and effective in the treatment of overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Weight loss is significant during the initial 4 weeks and the early response seems to be a predictor for better long-term effect on weight loss.