EFFECTIVENESS OF GLP-1RA ON WEIGHT REDUCTIONS IN OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF REAL-WORLD DATA

Abstract

The effectiveness of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1ra) in reducing weight in overweight or obese patients is still controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effect of GLP-1ra in reducing weight with alternative treatments for obesity or antidiabetic medications. The related studies were identified from MEDLINE and Scopus databases since initial to July 2023. Cohort studies which compared weight reduction between patients who received GLP-1ra and other treatments for obesity (i.e., Exenatide, Liraglutide, Semaglutide, Dulaglutide) or antidiabetic medications (i.e., Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), Basal Insulin Supported Oral Therapy (BOT)) were included. Data were independently extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Four cohorts with 1,223 patients were met inclusion criteria. The mean difference of weight reduction between 2 groups were estimated and pooled using direct meta-analysis. The results revealed GLP-1ra over other treatments in reducing body weight, with a mean difference (MD) of -2.46 (95% CI, -5.44 to 0.52, p = 0.11) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 91.75%). It means that GLP-1ra can lose weight 2.46 kg higher than comparator but not statistically significant. A sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding a study in intervention (SGLT2) and percentage of female, reduced heterogeneity to I2= 31.47%, and confirmed that GLP-1ra was significantly higher weight reduction about 3.78 kgs. (MD = -3.78; 95% CI, -5.23 to -2.33, p = 0.00) than other treatments of obesity.