Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist use for obesity treatment in patients with left ventricular assist devices
Michele Edwards, MSN, APRN,
Melanie Thomas, MSN, APRN,
Maryjane Farr, MD, MSc,
Densey Varghese, MSN, APRN,
Lauren K. Truby, MD, MS,
Jennifer T. Thibodeau, MD, MSCS,
Mark H. Drazner, MD, MSc,
Matthias Peltz, MD,
Justin L. Grodin, MD, MPH,
Nicholas S. Hendren, MD
Affiliations
Michele Edwards, MSN, APRN
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Melanie Thomas, MSN, APRN
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Maryjane Farr, MD, MSc
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Densey Varghese, MSN, APRN
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Lauren K. Truby, MD, MS
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Jennifer T. Thibodeau, MD, MSCS
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Mark H. Drazner, MD, MSc
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Matthias Peltz, MD
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Justin L. Grodin, MD, MPH
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
Nicholas S. Hendren, MD
Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, Dallas, Texas; Parkland Health, Dallas, Texas; Corresponding author: Nicholas S. Hendren, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, UT-Southwestern, 5959 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75290.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists are effective weight loss treatments, yet few data are available regarding their use in patients with durable left ventricular assist devices. We report our single-center experience with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist use in 21 patients with World Health Organization class I to III obesity on durable left ventricular assist device support. During therapy, patients experienced a median weight change of −12.4 (−20.0 to −2.9) kg and a −7.4% (−16.3 to −2.1) change in body weight with a median time on glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist therapy of 12 (6-22) months. Of these, 17 of 21 patients lost weight (median change −14.0kg [−21.8 to −5.3], −9.5% [−18.0 to −4.0] body weight) and 9 of 21 had a speed reduction. No major adverse events were attributed to glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist therapy. At our center, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists use was well tolerated, safe, and associated with weight loss in patients with durable left ventricular assist devices.
