Antiobesity Medication, Weight Loss, and Mortality Among OA Patients

In a population-based study, investigators found that the use of antiobesity medication resulting in a slow-to-moderate rate of weight loss was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality than that of rapid weight loss among patients with overweight or obesity and knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Noting that current guidelines recommend weight loss for patients with overweight or obesity and knee or hip OA, the authors wrote, “[T]here is a paucity of data on the relation of weight loss to death among patients with OA. We aimed to examine the relation of the rate of weight loss induced by antiobesity medications over one year to all-cause mortality among patients with overweight or obesity and knee or hip OA.”

The team used the IQVIA Medical Research Database to identify people with overweight or obesity and knee or hip OA and assess the effect of slow-to-moderate (2%–10%) or fast (≥10%) weight loss within 1 year of initiating antiobesity medications on all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes.

“Among 6,524 participants, the 5-year all-cause mortality rates were 5.3%, 4.0%, and 5.4% for weight gain or stable, slow-to-moderate weight loss, and fast weight loss arms, respectively. Compared with the weight gain or stable arm, hazard ratios of all-cause mortality were 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.92) for the slow-to-moderate weight loss arm and 0.99 (95% CI 0.67–1.44) for the fast weight loss arm,” the investigators reported.

They further noted, “We found dose–response protective effects of weight loss on incident hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and venous thromboembolism but a slightly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, albeit not statistically significant, in the fast rate of weight loss arm than in the weight gain or stable arm and no significant relations of weight loss to the risk of cancer.”

Reference:

Wei J, Hunter D, Lane NE. Weight loss induced by antiobesity medications and all-cause mortality among patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published online December 6, 2023.  https://doi.org/10.1002/art.42754