Real-World Clinical Effectiveness of Liraglutide 3.0 mg for Weight Management in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Real-world clinical effectiveness of liraglutide 3.0 mg, in combination with diet and exercise, was investigated 4 and 6 months post initiation. Changes in absolute and percent body weight were examined from baseline. METHODS: A cohort of liraglutide 3.0 mg initiators in 2015 and 2016 was identified from six Canadian weight-management clinics. Post initiation values at 4 and 6 months were compared with baseline values using a paired t test. RESULTS: The full cohort consisted of 311 participants, with 210 in the ≥ 4-month persistence group and 167 in the ≥ 6-month persistence group. Average baseline BMI was 40.7 kg/m2 , and weight was 114.8 kg. There was a significant change in body weight 6 and 4 months after initiation of treatment in persistent subjects (≥ 6-month: -8.0 kg, P < 0.001; ≥ 4-month: -7.0 kg, P < 0.001) and All Subjects, regardless of persistence (-7.3 kg; P < 0.001). Percentage change in body weight from baseline was -7.1% in the ≥ 6-month group and -6.3% in the ≥ 4-month group, and All Subjects lost 6.5% body weight. Of participants in the ≥ 6-month group, 64.10% and 34.5% lost ≥ 5% and > 10% body weight, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world setting, liraglutide 3.0 mg, when combined with diet and exercise, was associated with clinically meaningful weight loss.

Feasibility of an interdisciplinary program for obesity management in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a medically supervised, publicly funded interdisciplinary program for obesity management in a Canadian setting. DESIGN: Retrospective chart audit using electronic medical records. SETTING: Wharton Medical Clinic in Hamilton and Burlington, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2739 consenting patients attending the interdisciplinary obesity-management program at Wharton Medical Clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three- and 6-month weight changes and factors affecting weight loss. RESULTS: The 1085 patients attending the clinic for at least 3 months (mean [SD] of 8.1 [6.1] visits and 5.4 [4.7] months) lost a mean (SD) of 4.2 (7.1) kg or 3.5% (6.8%) of their initial body weight, with 32% and 9% of these patients attaining weight reductions of 5% or greater and 10% or greater, respectively. The 289 patients attending the clinic for 6 months or more (mean [SD] of 13.2 [9.7] visits and 10.5 [6.9] months) lost a mean (SD) of 5.4 (10.6) kg or 4.3% (9.2%) of their initial body weight, with 47% and 17% attaining reductions of 5% or greater and 10% or greater, respectively. Visit frequency was positively associated with weight loss independent of age, sex, body mass index, and treatment duration. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data support the short-term effectiveness and clinical utility of this publicly funded program. Using this interdisciplinary model, approximately half of patients were able to attain clinically significant weight loss.