Real-world healthcare resource utilization and medical costs in patients with overweight or obesity and multimorbidity treated with semaglutide in the United States

Patients with overweight or obesity (OW/OB) are at increased risk for multimorbidity (≥2 obesity-related complications [ORCs]) and accompanying increases in mortality and excess costs. A retrospective, observational cohort study using the Komodo Health claims database assessed healthcare resource utilization and medical costs in patients with OW/OB and multimorbidity who received semaglutide compared with propensity-score matched obesity medication non-users (controls). Patients taking semaglutide (mean follow-up 101 days) had 27% lower all-cause total medical costs ($891 vs $1,213 per patient per month [PPPM]), 59% lower inpatient costs ($115 vs $283) and 18% lower outpatient costs ($746 vs $906) vs. controls (all p < 0.0001). ORC-related total medical costs were 36% lower ($522 vs. $812 PPPM), inpatient costs were 59% lower ($107 vs $259) and outpatient costs were 26% lower ($399 vs $540) among patients taking semaglutide than controls (all p < 0.0001). Use of semaglutide was associated with significant improvements in almost all cardiometabolic markers assessed from baseline to Weeks 52 and 104. Patients treated with semaglutide had lower all-cause and ORC-related total medical costs than non-users, with a yearly reduction of $3,870 and $3,482, respectively. Cost reductions were driven by significantly lower inpatient hospitalization rates and costs. People with overweight or obesity often have additional conditions related to excess weight (e.g. heart disease, stroke, diabetes) and most have two or more of these conditions (called multimorbidity). These patients cost more to treat compared with patients who do not have obesity-related complications. Semaglutide is a therapy that helps patients to lose excess weight. In this study, we analyzed real-world data from routine clinical practice to compare healthcare resource use (HCRU) including hospital stays, outpatient visits, and emergency room visits and the cost of medical care for patients treated with semaglutide vs. similar patients who did not use any obesity medications (controls). Patients taking semaglutide had 27% lower total costs ($891 vs $1,213), 59% lower hospital costs ($115 vs $283) and 18% lower outpatient costs ($746 vs $906) per month vs. controls. When including only costs related to multimorbidity, semaglutide-treated patients had 36% lower total costs ($522 vs. $812), 59% lower hospital costs ($107 vs $259) and 26% lower outpatient costs ($399 vs $540) per month than controls. Over one year, total medical costs in patients taking semaglutide could be $3,870 lower and obesity-related multimorbidity costs could be $3,482 lower. Semaglutide-treated patients lost more weight after 52 weeks compared to controls (−15.3% of their body weight vs. −0.65%.) and had large improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure after 52 and 104 weeks of treatment. Use of semaglutide in people with overweight or obesity and multimorbidity was associated with health benefits and lower healthcare costs.