Medhati Pourya, Shin Thomas H, Wasden Katherine, Mathur Vasundhara, Apovian Caroline, Nimeri Abdelrahman, Sheu Eric G, Tavakkoli Ali
Department of Surgery, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
Laboratory for Surgical and Metabolic Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.
Ann Surg. 2025 May 6. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006748.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate weight loss outcomes of semaglutide in a real-world setting, specifically in patients who have undergone metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Despite excellent weight loss for semaglutide in clinical trials, actual results may be limited due to factors such as costs, drug availability, insurance coverage, and adverse events. METHODS: A retrospective series of patients with obesity prescribed semaglutide at a large multidisciplinary weight management center in a tertiary academic institution. Primary endpoints were compliance and percentage total weight loss (%TWL) within 1 year of semaglutide prescription, with further evaluation of weight loss in those with previous history of MBS. RESULTS: The average [SD] %TWL at 1 year among all patients prescribed semaglutide was 8.8% [10.5]. Of 1,072 patients prescribed semaglutide, 199/1072 (18.6%) did not start semaglutide mainly due to access issues, and 268/1072 (25%) discontinued it within 1 year primarily due to patient factors and side effects. Among patients who completed 1 year of treatment, %TWL was 10.9% [9.8]. In those with history of MBS, %TWL was higher in patients who underwent Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), but not sleeve gastrectomy, compared to no MBS history (13.6% [10.3] vs. 10.1% [9.6]; P=0.022). Furthermore, %TWL with semaglutide was less in those with BMI>40, than those with BMI<40. CONCLUSIONS: 1-year semaglutide compliance is low at 56.4%. 1-year TWL for all patients prescribed semaglutide was 8.8%, and 10.9% for those who took semaglutide for 1 complete year. Patients who underwent RYGB tended to lose more weight with semaglutide than naïve MBS patients.
Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023-5
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025-7-18