Use of liraglutide after bariatric surgery: a 36-month follow-up in a real-world setting in Chile.

Abstract

Bariatric surgery has several benefits, including sustainable weight loss and improvement or resolution of metabolic comorbidities. However, despite initially successful weight loss, weight regain occurs during long-term follow-up, and many patients are unable to reach or maintain their target weight goals. Liraglutide is a therapy for obesity aimed at preventing weight regain. This retrospective, observational, single-arm, pre-post study was performed to analyze the relative change in body weight among patients receiving liraglutide after bariatric surgery in a real-world setting in Chile. Treatment with liraglutide at a median dose of 1.2 mg was associated with a mean weight loss from baseline to 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of 5%, 7.7%, 7.6%, 5.8%, and 5.1%, respectively. The mean body mass index reduction was 14.8% at 36 months. Dropout rates were consistent with those of usual obesity treatments. Overall, 70% of the patients were receiving other weight-loss drugs. Liraglutide was well tolerated, but cost barriers led to several patients interrupting its use. Liraglutide is an effective and safe treatment for weight reduction after bariatric surgery in patients receiving routine clinical care in Chile.