Key result
Orlistat-assisted diet significantly improved 6-minute walk test distance (MD 45.8 m; 95% CI 5.2-86.4; p=0.031) and weight loss compared to diet counseling alone in obese heart failure patients.
Why the study?
Does an orlistat-assisted diet improve weight loss and functional capacity in obese patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction?
RCT (n=21)
Does an orlistat-assisted diet improve weight loss and functional capacity in obese patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction?
In a small pilot study of obese patients with HFrEF, an orlistat-assisted diet significantly improved weight loss, functional capacity, and lipid profiles compared to diet counseling alone.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support orlistat-assisted weight loss to improve functional capacity in obese HFrEF; extends small RCT evidence but needs larger trials.
Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization. Obesity is increasingly common and is a major public health problem. The aim of this study is to assess whether obese patients with heart failure can benefit from losing weight via an orlistat-assisted diet. This randomized clinical trial included obese patients with ejection fractions < or =40%. Orlistat and diet counseling were compared with diet counseling alone. Twenty-one consecutive obese patients with heart failure were recruited. Significant improvement in 6-minute walk test (45.8 m; 95% confidence interval, 5.2-86.4 m; p=0.031), functional class (-0.6+/-0.5, p=0.014), weight loss (-8.55 kg; 95% confidence interval, -13.0 to -4.1 kg; p<0.001) and also significant decreases in total cholesterol (p=0.017), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.03), and triglycerides (p=0.036) were observed in the orlistat group. Orlistat can promote significant weight loss and symptoms of relief in obese patients with heart failure, as measured by 6-minute walk test and functional capacity. The lipid profile improved. Orlistat was safe and well tolerated.
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Higginson et al. (2005) conducted an RCT in Obese patients with heart failure (n=21). Orlistat and diet counseling vs. Diet counseling alone was evaluated on 6-minute walk test (MD 45.8, 95% CI 5.2-86.4, p=0.031). Orlistat-assisted diet significantly improved 6-minute walk test distance (MD 45.8 m; 95% CI 5.2-86.4; p=0.031) and weight loss compared to diet counseling alone in obese heart failure patients.
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