Socioeconomic Status and Anti-obesity Medications: Impact on Cardiovascular Risk in Medicare Patients with Obesity
Author(s)
Onur Baser, MS, PhD1, Katarzyna Rodchenko, MA, MPH2, Munira Mohamed, MPH3, Alexandra Passarelli, MPH2, Shuangrui Chen, MS2, Nehir Yapar, MS2.
1City University of New York, New York, NY, USA, 2Columbia Data Analytics, New York, NY, USA, 3Columbia Data Analytics, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
1City University of New York, New York, NY, USA, 2Columbia Data Analytics, New York, NY, USA, 3Columbia Data Analytics, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is closely linked to socioeconomic status (SES), with lower SES often exacerbating adverse outcomes. This study explored the relationship between anti-obesity medications (AOMs) and CVD risk, emphasizing the role of SES in modifying outcomes.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Medicare claims data from 2020 to 2022. Patients with obesity treated with semaglutide or tirzepatide (N=5,926) were compared to those not treated with AOMs (N=79,118). Cox regression and Aalen additive regression models were used to assess CVD risk, controlling for demographic and clinical factors.
RESULTS: AOM use was associated with an 8% reduction in CVD risk compared to non-users (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-0.98, p=0.0068). Notably, patients in low-SES regions had a 9% increased risk of CVD (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.13, p<0.0001), while those in medium-SES regions had a 7% increased risk (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11, p=0.0003) compared to high-SES regions.
CONCLUSIONS: While AOMs demonstrated a protective effect against CVD in patients with obesity, lower SES was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Medicare claims data from 2020 to 2022. Patients with obesity treated with semaglutide or tirzepatide (N=5,926) were compared to those not treated with AOMs (N=79,118). Cox regression and Aalen additive regression models were used to assess CVD risk, controlling for demographic and clinical factors.
RESULTS: AOM use was associated with an 8% reduction in CVD risk compared to non-users (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-0.98, p=0.0068). Notably, patients in low-SES regions had a 9% increased risk of CVD (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.05-1.13, p<0.0001), while those in medium-SES regions had a 7% increased risk (HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11, p=0.0003) compared to high-SES regions.
CONCLUSIONS: While AOMs demonstrated a protective effect against CVD in patients with obesity, lower SES was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
CO32
Topic
Clinical Outcomes
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)