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Cardiometabolic Effects of Anti-obesity Pharmacotherapy

  • Nonstatin Drugs (E. deGoma, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

We review recent studies discussing the impact of pharmacologic agents for weight loss on clinical cardiovascular events, as well as cardiometabolic risk factors.

Recent Findings

Pharmacotherapy with current FDA-approved medications for weight loss can significantly improve known risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, inflammatory biomarkers, and the quantity of visceral fat, as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, data regarding the actual reduction in clinical cardiovascular events with the use of weight loss medications is scarce.

Summary

Pharmacotherapy for weight loss may have additional benefit in optimizing patient’s cardiometabolic comorbidities and improving their clinical cardiovascular outcomes, but each drug should be carefully selected based upon individual patient characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Megin Myers, CRNP, for her critical review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, and Penn Metabolic Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Andrew R. Crawford, Naji Alamuddin & Anastassia Amaro

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  1. Andrew R. Crawford
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Correspondence to Anastassia Amaro.

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NA has consulted for Novo Nordisk. AA has consulted for Novo Nordisk and is a consultant for Andrew Technologies. ARC declares no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Crawford, A.R., Alamuddin, N. & Amaro, A. Cardiometabolic Effects of Anti-obesity Pharmacotherapy. Curr Atheroscler Rep 20, 18 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-018-0719-9

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