Obesity Impact on Incidence of Chronic Comorbid Conditions

Author(s)

Karen Chung, MS, PharmD1, Marianne Mancini, MBA, MA2, Karen Modesto, MD2, Summer Ji, MS2, Brian Lian, PhD2.
1Vice President, Viking Therapeutics, Inc., Henderson, NV, USA, 2Viking Therapeutics, Inc, San Diego, CA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Obesity prevalence has been projected to impact >50% of U.S. adults by 2050. Consequently, an increase in a wide range of obesity-related comorbidities, which include some of the costliest chronic diseases in the U.S., is expected. Anti-obesity medications (i.e., incretin mimetics) have the potential to prevent and/or help manage a diverse set of obesity-related chronic health conditions that are associated with significant economic burden.
METHODS: A narrative literature review was conducted to identify published literature on the impact of obesity on the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, dementia, osteoarthritis, and cancer in adults. Publications (i.e., systematic review, meta-analyses) focusing on the effect of obesity on related comorbidities are presented (2014-2024). English language articles were included.
RESULTS: Published literature supports the increased risk of chronic comorbidities in individuals with obesity. Meta-analyses incorporating data from between 5-250 studies demonstrate significantly increased risk of diabetes (5.6/1000 person-years versus 16.4/1000 person-years; RR=2.93), coronary artery disease (OR=1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (RR=3.53, 95% CI 2.48-5.03), dementia (RR=1.33, 95% CI 1.08-1.63), and knee osteoarthritis (RR=4.55 95% CI 2.90-7.13) in adults with obesity versus normal weight. Additionally, a meta-analysis on the impact of obesity demonstrated that higher BMI was associated with increased risk of 19 cancers (NHL, bladder, glioma, prostate, ovarian, multiple myeloma, pancreas, leukemia, colorectal, thyroid, head and neck, postmenopausal breast, meningioma, gastric (cardia), gallbladder, liver, kidney, esophageal adenocarcinoma, endometrial) with RR per 5 kg/m2 BMI increase ranging from 1.05 (95% CI 1.03-1.07) for NHL to 1.59 (95% CI 1.52-1.67) for endometrial cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with markedly increased risk of a wide range of comorbidities. Reduction in BMI may lead to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare resource utilization and costs. Further research is needed to examine the relationship among obesity-related conditions and the impact of anti-obesity medications in the real-world.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA

Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1

Code

CO107

Topic

Clinical Outcomes

Disease

SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), SDC: Mental Health (including addition), SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), SDC: Oncology

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