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Efficacy of glucagon-like-peptide-1 agonists for weight loss in adults with CHD
Prinston Varghese1,2, Robert W Elder1, Jeffrey M Vinocur1
1Yale School of Medicine, USA.
Background:
Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are beneficial for glycaemic control, weight loss, and cardiovascular health. Because GLP-1 agonists may be a useful tool in the management of obesity in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), we examined whether GLP-1 agonists are effective and safe for weight loss in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) and explored the effects of sex and CHD complexity.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of ACHD patients who were prescribed a GLP-1 agonist from 1/1/2022-3/31/2024 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Patients were subdivided by CHD anatomic complexity. The primary outcome was the change in weight over time. Side effects were explored as a secondary outcome.
Results:
The moderate complexity ACHD group had the fastest weight loss during both the first 6 months and 12 months of treatment, but was comparable to the other two ACHD complexities in the full period of follow-up. Patients in the simple and great complexity groups required 12 months of treatment to reach meaningful weight loss. Females had a faster rate of weight loss compared to males across all ACHD complexity levels. The most common side effects reported were gastrointestinal, such as nausea, acid reflux, and diarrhoea.
Conclusion:
This study provides evidence that GLP-1 agonists are effective for weight loss in ACHD patients, with the greatest weight loss in females and patients with moderate ACHD complexity. Moreover, GLP-1 agonists in the ACHD population have a reasonable side effect profile that is typical for these agents.
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