Approach to weight management in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease in a real‐life clinical setting

Abstract

Abstract Objective Excess adiposity represents a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and progression to end‐stage kidney disease. Anti‐Obesity Medications (AOMs) are vastly underutilized in patients with advanced CKD because of concerns related to safety and efficacy. This study was conducted to evaluate the real‐world approach to weight management and the efficacy and safety of AOMs in people with advanced CKD. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of individuals with Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m2 and eGFR ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 referred to an academic medical weight‐management program between 01/2015 and 09/2022. Evaluation of weight‐management approaches, body weight change, treatment‐related side effects, and reasons for treatment discontinuation were reported. Results Eighty‐nine patients met inclusion criteria, 16 were treated with intensive lifestyle modifications (ILM) alone and 73 with AOMs (all treated with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist [GLP1‐RA] +/− other AOMs) along with ILM. Patients treated with AOMs had a longer duration of on‐treatment follow‐up (median 924 days) compared to (93 days) the ILM group. Over 75% of patients treated with AOMs lost ≥5% body weight versus 25% of those treated with ILM. Only 15% of patients treated with AOMs discontinued therapy due to treatment‐related side effects. Conclusion In patients with obesity and advanced CKD, GLP‐1RA‐based anti‐obesity treatment was well‐tolerated, effective, and led to durable weight reduction.

Keywords

• anti‐obesity
• kidney
• obesity
• weight management