Diabetes Drug May Lower CVD Risk, Body Weight in Patients with Schizophrenia

Liraglutide reduces body weight and improves cardiometabolic health in patients with schizophrenia, according to the results of a study presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 77th Scientific Sessions.

Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease than the general population. However, previous studies that aimed to counteract weight gain from antipsychotic therapy are limited.

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For the study, 103 patients with schizophrenia from 2 clinical sites in Denmark were randomly assigned to either once-daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide or placebo for 16 weeks.

Included in the study were participants on a stable treatment of clozapine or olanzapine, those who were overweight or obese, and had prediabetes.

Gluose tolerance was estimated via 75-g glucose tolerance test, and changes in body weight and cardiometabolic factors were also measured.

Of the total, 96 participants were included in the analysis.

Analysis showed that glucose tolerance was improved in 63.8% of participants in the liraglutide group (n = 30) compared to 16.0% in the placebo group (n = 8).

Those in the liraglutide group also saw reductions in waist circumference, visceral fat, and low-density lipoprotein levels.

 “Liraglutide significantly improved glucose tolerance, body weight, and cardiometabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with clozapine or olanzapine,” the researchers concluded.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Larsen JR, Vedtofte L, Jakobsen MSL, et al. Effect of liraglutide treatment on prediabetes and overweight or obesity in clozapine- or olanzapine-treated patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder: a randomized clinical trial [published online June 10, 2017]. JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.1220.