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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Dec;5(6):1035-1043.
doi: 10.1002/ehf2.12334. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Liraglutide and weight loss among patients with advanced heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction: insights from the FIGHT trial

Abhinav Sharma  1   2 , Andrew P Ambrosy  1 , Adam D DeVore  1 , Kenneth B Margulies  3 , Steven E McNulty  1 , Robert J Mentz  1 , Adrian F Hernandez  1 , Gary Michael Felker  1 , Lauren B Cooper  4 , Anuradha Lala  5 , Justin Vader  6 , John D Groake  7 , Barry A Borlaug  8 , Eric J Velazquez  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Liraglutide and weight loss among patients with advanced heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction: insights from the FIGHT trial

Abhinav Sharma et al. ESC Heart Fail. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Aims: Obesity is present in up to 45% of patients with heart failure (HF). Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor antagonist, facilitates weight loss in obese patients. The efficacy of liraglutide as a weight loss agent among patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and a recent acute HF hospitalization remains unknown.

Methods and results: The Functional Impact of GLP-1 for Heart Failure Treatment study randomized 300 patients with HFrEF (ejection fraction ≤ 40%), both with and without diabetes and a recent HF hospitalization to liraglutide or placebo. The primary outcome for this post hoc analysis was the change in weight from baseline to last study visit. We conducted an 'on-treatment' analysis of patients with at least one follow-up visit on study drug (123 on liraglutide and 124 on placebo). The median age was 61 years, 21% were female, and 69% of patients had New York Heart Association functional Class III or IV symptoms. The median ejection fraction was 25% (25th, 75th percentile 19-32%). Liraglutide use was associated with a significant weight reduction [liraglutide -1.00 lbs vs. placebo 2.00 lbs; treatment difference -4.10 lbs; 95% confidence interval (CI) -7.94, -0.25; P = 0.0367; percentage treatment difference -2.07%, 95% CI -3.86, -0.28; P = 0.0237]. Similar results were seen after multivariable adjustments. Liraglutide also significantly reduced triglyceride levels (liraglutide 7.5 mg/dL vs. placebo 12.0 mg/dL; treatment difference -33.1 mg/dL; 95% CI -60.7, -5.6; P = 0.019).

Conclusions: Liraglutide is an efficacious weight loss agent in patients with HFrEF. These findings will require further exploration in a well-powered cardiovascular outcomes trial.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01800968.

Keywords: Diabetes; Heart failure; Liraglutide; Weight loss.

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Weight change frequencies associated with treatment.
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