Effectiveness and Safety of Add-on Once-Daily Liraglutide (1.2 mg) in Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Obesity: Data from a Real-World Cohort of Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate real-world effectiveness and safety of once-daily liraglutide (1.2 mg) as an add-on to oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) and/or insulin, in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with obesity in Iraq. Materials and methods: A total of 55 T2D patients with obesity (mean ± SD age: 46.5 ± 8.7 years, 60% were females) initiating once-daily liraglutide (1.2 mg) as an add-on to OADs and/or insulin were included in this prospective cohort study. Change in body weight and serum HbA1c levels, and the insulin and sulfonylurea (SU) requirement were recorded during 24-week liraglutide therapy. Results: Liraglutide yielded significant reduction in HbA1c values (from 10.7 ± 2.0% at baseline to 8.7 ± 2.4 % and 8.1 ± 1.6 % at weeks 12 and 24, respectively, p < 0.001 for each) and body weight (from 112.0 ± 19.6 kg at baseline to 109 ± 19.1 kg, 102 ± 16.9 kg and 97.0 ± 15.8 kg at weeks 4, 12 and 24, respectively, p < 0.001 for each). SU was stopped in 9/17 (52.9%) patients, and insulin therapy was discontinued in 15/44 (34%) patients after liraglutide treatment, and either with discontinuation or switch to basal insulin, 22/34 (64.7%) patients were no longer
requiring prandial insulin (premixed and basal/bolus). No unexpected safety or tolerability issues occurred. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings support the consideration of liraglutide as a favorable intensifying therapy in T2D patients with obesity and metformin failure, given that it enables a sustained HbA1c and body weight reduction even at 1.2 mg once-daily dose, alongside the potential benefits in reducing SU and insulin requirements with no serious side effects.