Predictors for successful weight reduction during treatment with Dapagliflozin among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary care

AIMS: Studies on factors affecting weight loss effect after start of dapagliflozin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are few. The aim of this study was to identify if there were any patient characteristics that could predict weight loss after starting treatment with dapagliflozin. METHODS: The study included 200 Korean patients with T2DM who were prescribed dapagliflozin in a family medicine clinic during 2014-2019. We studied patients for 1 year after starting dapagliflozin treatment. Data were collected from medical records. Clinically meaningful weight reduction was defined as ≥3% decrease in body weight and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for succeeding this weight reduction was calculated for different baseline characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 113 (56.5%) patients were male. Weight loss of ≥3% in 1 year treatment with dapagliflozin was achieved in 122 (61%) patients. The likelihood of this level of weight loss was significantly increased with regular exercise (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.07-4.25), with concomitant metformin treatment (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.23-6.80), and in patients with normal renal function (OR 13.84, 95% CI 1.33-144.26). Patients receiving sulfonylurea treatment were less likely to achieve ≥3% weight reduction (OR 0.39, 95 CI 0.19-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: T2DM patients that performed regular exercise, had normal renal function and were receiving metformin were more likely to have clinically meaningful body weight reduction after one year treatment with dapagliflozin.