Slow-to-moderate weight loss induced by anti-obesity drugs may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with overweight or obesity and knee or hip osteoarthritis, according to a recent study published by Wei et al in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Investigators used the IQVIA Medical Research Database to identify 6,524 patients with overweight or obesity and knee or hip osteoarthritis. They then examined the effect of slow-to-moderate or fast weight loss, characterized by respective 2% to 10% and ≥ 10% reductions in weight over the course of 1 year following the use of anti-obesity drugs. Patients who gained weight or maintained a stable weight during the study period and those who experienced fast weight loss had 5-year all-cause mortality rates of 5.3% and 5.4%, respectively; however, patients with slow-to-moderate weight loss had a 5-year all-cause mortality rate of 4.0%. Further, they found dose–response protective effects of weight loss on the incidence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and venous thromboembolism.
December 21, 2023