Introduction: Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, has been recently approved for the treatment of overweight and obesity given its proven effectiveness and safety in phase 3 clinical trials. In this study, we aim to evaluate weight loss outcomes associated with tirzepatide in the real-world setting.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adults taking tirzepatide for the treatment of overweight or obesity. Endpoints: total body weight loss percentage (TBWL%) at 3, 6, and 12 months; TBWL% difference by type 2 diabetes (T2D) status; proportion of patients achieving ≥5%, ≥10%, ≥15% and ≥20% of TBWL% at 12 months; and side effects. We used paired t-test to assess TBWL% compared to baseline and non-paired t-test to compare TBWL% by T2D status. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation.
Results: We included 200 patients: 78% female, 91% White, age 50±12 y, BMI 39±8 kg/m2, 36.5% with T2D. Most patients were on 15 mg (26.5%) or 7.5 mg (20.0%) of tirzepatide weekly. TBWL% at 3, 6, and 12 months were -9±5% (n= 138, p<0.001), -12±6% (n= 113, p<0.001), and -17±9% (n= 97, p<0.001), respectively. Compared to patients without T2D, those with T2D lost less weight at 12 months: -14±9% vs. -19±9%, p=0.01. The percentages of patients losing ≥5%, ≥10%, ≥15% and ≥20% of TBWL% at 12 months were 90%, 73%, 57%, and 40%. Only 11% and 6% of patients received nutritional and behavioral support, respectively. Side effects were reported by 29% of patients. The most frequent was nausea (18%). Seven patients (4%) discontinued tirzepatide due to side effects.
Conclusion: In the real-world setting, tirzepatide led to substantial weight loss at 12 months in patients with and without T2D, comparable to what has been reported in pivotal trials. Future real-world studies with a larger number of participants are needed to better assess the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tirzepatide in this setting.
S. Fansa: None. E. Tama: None. N. Safwan: None. W. Ghusn: None. D. Anazco: None. A. Acosta: Consultant; Amgen Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Nestlé Health Science, Structure Therapeutics, Inc., Boehringer-Ingelheim. Research Support; Vivus. Consultant; Currax. Other Relationship; Gila Therapeutics, Phenomix Sciences. Speaker's Bureau; Eli Lilly and Company. M.D. Hurtado: None.
National Institutes of Health (K12AR084222)