Exenatide use in the management of metabolic syndrome: a retrospective database study

To evaluate the effect of exenatide therapy on cardiometabolic risk factors and anthropometric parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome.

From June 2005 to June 2007, we performed a retrospective analysis of data extracted from the records of adult patients with metabolic syndrome being treated with exenatide. Diagnosis of any type of diabetes mellitus was exclusionary. Patients were initiated on exenatide therapy, 5 mcg, 1 hour before their morning and evening meals for the first month and were instructed to titrate up to 10 mcg. Cardiometabolic risk factors (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure) and anthropometric parameters (absolute body weight, body mass index, and abdominal girth) were measured at baseline and at 16 +/- 4 weeks after initiating exenatide therapy. Data collected also included age, sex, metabolic syndrome diagnosis, and other concomitant medication used in the management of endocrine disorders.

The study population consisted of 299 patients (259 women, 40 men) with an age range of 18 to 74 years. Exenatide treatment was associated with significant reductions in mean body weight (P<.001) and body mass index (P<.001). Weight loss in 76.6% of patients was concomitant with a significant reduction in mean abdominal girth (P<.001). Further analysis revealed significant decreases in mean triglycerides (P<.001), total cholesterol (P<.01), and both systolic (P<.01) and diastolic blood pressure (P<.03). Approximately 60.2% of patients used metformin concomitantly, and half either decreased or discontinued metformin therapy.

This is the first report examining the effect of exenatide on patients with metabolic syndrome. We observed a significant improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors and anthropometric parameters as a result of exenatide over the treatment interval.