Analysis findings presented during AMCP Nexus 2021 showed suggested patients treated with anti-obesity medications have obesity-related comorbidities, however, patients who initiated an older generation anti-obesity medication had a higher comorbidity profile and were also less persistent with medication. 

“Despite the high prevalence of overweight/obesity and the high associated health system costs, little is known about the characteristics of patients newly treated with anti-obesity medications,” the study authors explained.

The study authors aimed to examine the real-world demographics and clinical characteristics of patients receiving anti-obesity medications by using Optum administrative claims of US commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees. They identified adult patients 18 years of age or older who initiated an anti-obesity medication that was approved for long-term use.  

“We described by medication: age, sex and insurance type at index medication fill; obesity-related comorbidities within 12 months prior to index fill (baseline); and persistence during a variable follow-up period (minimum 12 months, until earliest of 36 months follow-up, end of study period, disenrollment or death),” the research team said. “No statistical testing was performed.”  

Based on the criteria, the study team identified 6808 adults who were newly treated with anti-obesity medications (31.4% N-B, 27.7% lorcaserin, 23.5% P-T, 13.3% liraglutide, 4.0% orlistat) with mean (SD) follow-up of 849.7 (250.7) days, median age 50 years, 76.8% female and 9.6% Medicare Advantage insurance. 

According to the findings, lorcaserin and orlistat were used mostly among older patients compared with liraglutide. Further, patients receiving lorcaserin or orlistat were more likely to be insured by Medicare Advantage.  

The findings also showed that the most commonly reported obesity-related comorbidities included:  

• hypertension (47.6%);
• dyslipidemia (47.4%);
• back pain (30.5%);
• type 2 diabetes (19.7%);
• depression (19.7%);
• anxiety (19.3%); and
• sleep apnea (18.6%).  

“This descriptive analysis illustrates that most patients treated with [anti-obesity medications] have [obesity-related comorbidities], but those initiated with an older generation [anti-obesity medications] often had a high comorbidity profile and were less persistent with medication,” the authors concluded.  

“Further studies are warranted to understand the factors influencing choice of treatment and treatment persistence, and if patients with the highest need are provided the most effective treatment options.” 

Reference:

Busyman E, Swindle J, Ahmad N, et al. Demographics and clinical characteristics among patients initiated on anti-obesity medications: A retrospective study of administrative claims. Poster presented at: AMCP Nexus 2021; October 18-21, 2021; Denver, CO.