High BMI z-Scores from Different Growth References Are Not Comparable: An Example from a Weight Management Trial with an Anti-Obesity Medication in Pubertal Adolescents with Obesity.

Background: The BMI z-score is a standardized measure of weight status and weight change in children and adolescents. BMI z-scores from various growth references are often considered comparable, and differences among them are underappreciated. Methods: This study reanalyzed data from a weight management clinical study of liraglutide in pubertal adolescents with obesity using growth references from CDC 2000, CDC Extended, World Health Organization (WHO), and International Obesity Task Force. Results: BMI z-score treatment differences varied 2-fold from -0.13 (CDC 2000) to -0.26 (WHO) overall and varied almost 4-fold from -0.05 (CDC 2000) to -0.19 (WHO) among adolescents with high baseline BMI z-score. Conclusions: Depending upon the growth reference used, BMI z-score endpoints can produce highly variable treatment estimates and alter interpretations of clinical meaningfulness. BMI z-scores cited without the associated growth reference cannot be accurately interpreted.

Evaluating potential predictors of weight loss response to liraglutide in adolescents with obesity: A post hoc analysis of the randomized, placebo-controlled SCALE Teens trial.

BACKGROUND: As childhood obesity prevalence increases, determining which patients respond to anti-obesity medications would strengthen personalized approaches to obesity treatment. In the SCALE Teens trial among pubertal adolescents with obesity (NCT02918279), liraglutide 3.0 mg (or maximum tolerated dose) significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score on average versus placebo. That said, liraglutide effects on BMI reduction varied greatly among adolescents, similar to adults. OBJECTIVES: To identify post hoc characteristics predictive of achieving ≥5% and ≥10% BMI reductions at 56 weeks with liraglutide versus placebo in adolescents from the SCALE Teens trial. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was performed in 251 adolescents treated with liraglutide (n = 125) or placebo (n = 126) for 56 weeks. Baseline characteristics (selected a priori) included sex, race, ethnicity, age, Tanner (pubertal) stage, glycemic status (hyperglycemia [type 2 diabetes/prediabetes] vs. normoglycemia), obesity category (Class II/III vs. I), severity of depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and weight variability (weight fluctuations over time). The effects of early responder status (≥4% BMI reduction at week 16) on week 56 response were assessed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics did not affect achievement of ≥5% and ≥10% BMI reductions at week 56 in adolescents treated with liraglutide. Further, there was no association between weight variability and BMI reduction. Early liraglutide responders appeared to have greater BMI and body weight reductions at week 56 compared with early non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: This secondary analysis suggests that adolescents with obesity may experience significant BMI reductions after 56 weeks of liraglutide treatment, regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, age, pubertal stage, glycemic status, obesity category, severity of depression symptoms, or weight variability. Early response may predict greater week 56 response.

Prescription pattern, short-term outcomes, and its determinants in patients with chronic kidney disease attending a tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem associated with an eight- to ten-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality. Among patients with CKD, on drug treatment, we aimed to determine the characteristics, etiology, patterns and rates of drug use, and outcomes and factors determining the outcomes at 6 months. METHODS: We conducted an observational follow-up study on inpatients with CKD at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. We collected data on patient characteristics, comorbidities, treatments at baseline, and treatments and outcomes at 6 months. We used Chi-squared tests and Cochran's Q-test to compare categorical variables, t-tests to compare continuous variables, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis to estimate the determinants of the outcome. RESULTS: We recruited 305 patients with the mean age 52.98 (±14.89) years, 73.1% were male and 55.4% patients were from a lower-middle socioeconomic background. About 72.1% were in CKD Stage 5 and 37.0% had diabetic nephropathy. Antihypertensives (84.6%) were the most common drug class prescribed, followed by multivitamins (65.2%), proton-pump inhibitors (64.9%), and antidiabetic drugs (32.5%). There was no significant difference in rates of drug use over 6 months. Increased serum creatinine (odds ratio [OR]: 1.29 [1.04, 1.60]; P = 0.017) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR: 38.23 [3.92, 372.06]; P = 0.002) predicted progression of CKD, and antiplatelets reduced progression (OR: 0.278 [0.09, 0.85]; P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Diabetic nephropathy was the most common cause of CKD. There was no change in treatments over 6 months. Low eGFR predicted progression and use of antiplatelets reduced progression of CKD. Large multicenter studies are needed to study the variability in patient characteristics, treatment and outcomes to obtain a national picture, and to enable policy changes.