Efficacy of Subcutaneous Semaglutide Compared to Placebo for Weight Loss in Obese, Non-Diabetic Adults: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2022

Abstract

Background: Research on semaglutide's effect on weight loss has been largely focused on Type 2 Diabetics. No meta-analyses of semaglutide's efficacy in non-diabetic individuals have been conducted to date. Expanding the knowledge of semaglutide's outcome in non-diabetics may provide impactful changes at the clinical level.

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis quantified the efficacy of subcutaneous semaglutide in treating obesity in non-diabetic adult patients compared to placebo.

Method: Academic Search Premier, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) complete, MEDLINE with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, medrxiv.org, and clinicaltrials.gov were systematically investigated using a predetermined search strategy from inception to August 21, 2021. Covidence.org was used to screen, select, and extract data by two independent reviewers. Individual study bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Data were exported to RevMan v5.4, where meta-analysis was conducted using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.

Results: The initial search identified 332 relevant articles and ultimately retained four randomized controlled trials encompassing 2,882 participants with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2. Patients treated with semaglutide experienced a clinically significant reduction in mean body weight - 11.62 kg (95% CI: -13.03 to -10.21; P < 0.00001).

Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis validates the clinical efficacy of semaglutide for the treatment of obesity in the adult, non-diabetic population.

Comments

Online, ahead of print 17 June 2022.

At the time this article was research and written Naazneen Arastu and Olivia Cummins were students in the Physician Assistant graduate program at Sacred Heart University.

DOI

10.1007/s11096-022-01428-1

PMID

35715543

Publication

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy

Volume

44

Issue

4

Publisher

Springer

Pages

852-859


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