Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.2525 Dr. Patricia J. Rodriguez et al.
Points
- The study, conducted from May 2022 to September 2023, involved analyzing the electronic health records and dispensing information of 41,222 adults from U.S. healthcare systems. It focused on the effectiveness of tripeptide and semaglutide in promoting weight loss among individuals with overweight or obesity.
- After propensity score matching, the study focused on 18,386 adults with an average age of 52 and a baseline weight of 110 kg, of whom a significant majority (70.5%) were female.
- Tirzepatide users demonstrated significantly higher weight loss rates than those on semaglutide, with greater likelihoods of achieving weight loss thresholds of 5%, 10%, and 15%. The actual weight reductions at 3, 6, and 12 months were −2.4%, −4.3%, and −6.9%, respectively, for tirzepatide users.
- Despite the differences in weight loss efficacy, the rates of gastrointestinal adverse events were similar between the tirzepatide and semaglutide groups, indicating comparable tolerability between the two medications.
- The study highlights tirzepatide’s superior efficacy in weight reduction over semaglutide over one year in a clinical setting. It suggests further research to explore additional health outcomes and both treatments’ long-term benefits and applicability.
Summary
In a comprehensive cohort study conducted from May 2022 to September 2023, researchers compared the effectiveness of tirzepatide and semaglutide—two medications labeled for type 2 diabetes—in promoting weight loss among adults with overweight or obesity. Utilizing electronic health record data linked to dispensing information from a collective of U.S. healthcare systems, the study included 41,222 adults initially, narrowing down to 18,386 after propensity score matching. This population had an average age of 52.0 years and a baseline weight of 110 kg, with a notable majority of 70.5% being female. The analysis, completed on April 3, 2024, primarily focused on the hazard of achieving weight loss of 5%, 10%, and 15%, alongside percentage changes in weight at intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months.
The results indicated that tirzepatide users experienced significantly higher weight loss rates than those on semaglutide. Specifically, tirzepatide users had a higher likelihood of achieving weight loss thresholds of 5% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.76), 10% (HR, 2.54), and 15% (HR, 3.24). In terms of actual weight change, tirzepatide led to greater reductions at 3 months (−2.4%), 6 months (−4.3%), and 12 months (−6.9%). Despite these differences in weight loss, both groups’ gastrointestinal adverse events (AEs) rates remained similar, suggesting comparable tolerability.
This study underscores tirzepatide’s superior efficacy in promoting significant weight loss among adults with overweight or obesity compared to semaglutide within a clinical setting. While tirzepatide showed a more pronounced impact on weight reduction over one year, both treatments were generally well tolerated with similar rates of gastrointestinal side effects. Further research is necessary to explore other important health outcomes of these treatments, providing deeper insights into their long-term benefits and applicability.
Link to the article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2821080
References Rodriguez, P. J., Goodwin Cartwright, B. M., Gratzl, S., Brar, R., Baker, C., Gluckman, T. J., & Stucky, N. L. (2024). Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.2525
