The Real-World Use of Semaglutide to Promote Weight Loss in Obese Adults With Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Background: Obesity can be an issue for renal transplant eligibility. Semaglutide constitutes an interesting choice for obesity treatment, but little data exist regarding its efficacy and security among dialysis patients. Objectives: The co-primary endpoints of this study were to describe the change in body weight (%) and in body mass index (BMI) from the beginning and after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment for participants who used semaglutide compared with a control group of non-users. Secondary endpoints included description of dosages used and reported adverse events. Design: Multicenter cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Seven hemodialysis centers in Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada. Patients: Adults receiving hemodialysis treatment with BMI of at least 30 kg/m Measurements: Weight as defined by the target body weight (kg) at the end of dialysis. Body mass index is defined by weight, kg/m Methods: As a primary objective, we collected in records the body weights and calculated BMI at months 0, 3, 6, and 12 for participants with BMI of 30 kg/m Results: A total of 1286 patients received hemodialysis treatments in June 2023. Of these, 396 (31%) had a BMI of 30 kg/m Limitations: This study has several limitations, including its non-randomized design, short follow-up period, small sample size, and incomplete data on treatment compliance and adverse effects. Differences in patient characteristics, limited semaglutide doses for weight loss, and declining sample sizes over time further reduce the strength of conclusions, necessitating cautious interpretation of group comparisons. Conclusions: This study suggests that semaglutide promotes weight loss in hemodialyzed adults with obesity, but discontinuation of treatment was frequent and common adverse events were reported.