Disparities in importance physicians place on anti-obesity medications to help prevent cardiovascular comorbidities across the US and Germany

Abstract Background/Introduction Obesity and associated cardiovascular (CV) conditions are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Novel anti-obesity medications (AOMs) provide effective weight-loss strategies and can positively impact CV events in obese/overweight people. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the importance that physicians place on AOMs being able to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) across the US and Germany. Methods Data are from the Ipsos Syndicated Obesity Therapy Monitor, an online medical chart review and physician perceptual study including 245 physicians in the US and 157 physicians in Germany treating patients with Obesity of Overweight (PwO), collected between Oct-Dec 2024. Physician participants consisted of primary care physicians (PCPs), diabetologists/endocrinologists, gastroenterologists/hepatologists and cardiologists across both regions, and were screened for caseload (personally manage at least 25 PwO and prescribe AOMs to at least 20 PwO in the last 3 months). Results When asked which attributes they considered important when prescribing AOMs, 75% of all the sampled German physicians, especially cardiologists (89%), deemed ‘provides benefits in the prevention of MACE’ highly important (6/7 rating on scale of 1-7; 7 = very important), vs 62% of the US physicians; across both regions, PCPs were less likely to deem this attribute important vs the other specialties. When then asked to indicate their top 3 endpoints future AOMs should demonstrate, 22% of the total German sample reiterated ‘delay/prevention of MACE’ as the most important, especially cardiologists (53%), vs. 15% of the US sample. For the US physicians, AOMs that demonstrate ‘more than 25% mean weight loss reduction’ is a more important endpoint, whilst it is of roughly equal importance for the German cohort. Conclusions In this study, German physicians appear to place greater importance on AOMs providing CV benefits vs their US counterparts – our data shows the German physicians reported on having higher caseloads of patients with comorbidities (overall and CV-specific) among those treated for weight loss, which may influence this mindset. In addition, across both regions, different specialities placed differing levels of importance on CV benefits. This highlights the need for both region- and specialty-specific education and messaging strategies when communicating AOM efficacies to physicians to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Further research is warranted.