LINKING PHARMACY CLAIMS AND EHR-DERIVED ANTHROPOMETRICS TO EVALUATE REAL-WORLD GLP-1 OUTCOMES IN OBESITY LEVERAGING NORSTELLALINQ EHR AND VITALS DATA
Author(s)
Spencer Friedman1, ilan behm, MPH2, Eric Mitchell, BS3, Allison Perry, MPH4.
1Norstella, Yardley, PA, USA, 2Norstella, Englewood, CO, USA, 3Norstella, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 4Norstella, New York, NY, USA.
1Norstella, Yardley, PA, USA, 2Norstella, Englewood, CO, USA, 3Norstella, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 4Norstella, New York, NY, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To characterize real-world GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) utilization patterns and quantify real-world BMI change among adults with obesity using exact height and weight measurements from NorstellaLinQ’s linked claims and EHR database.
METHODS: A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted using NorstellaLinQ’s linked claims and EHR database. Adults initiating a GLP-1 RA between January 2024 and March 2026 were identified via NDC codes for obesity-indicated formulations of tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy injectable; Wegovy oral). Index date was defined as first fill. BMI outcomes were assessed among initiators with a valid EHR weight measurement within 12 months pre-index and 6-9 months post-index. Analyses were descriptive and no comparative adjustment was performed.
RESULTS: Of 3,171,331 initiators, 50.0% received tirzepatide, 46.5% injectable semaglutide, and 3.5% oral semaglutide. Mean baseline BMI among patients with available EHR vitals was 36.9 ± 7.6 kg/m². Among patients with paired pre- and post-index BMI measurements (n=85,461), tirzepatide showed a mean BMI reduction of 2.3 kg/m² (6.3%) at 6 months versus 1.6 kg/m² (4.2%) for semaglutide injectable. Observed ≥5% BMI reduction was achieved in 52.8% of tirzepatide initiators versus 43.6% of semaglutide initiators; ≥10% reduction in 33.5% versus 23.4%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: In this large real-world linked claims-EHR cohort, patients initiating tirzepatide experienced greater observed BMI reductions than those initiating semaglutide over six months. Integration of exact longitudinal EHR height and weight measurements with pharmacy claims enables scalable assessment of real-world weight-loss outcomes beyond what can be inferred from claims alone, supporting future comparative effectiveness, HEOR, and HTA research.
METHODS: A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted using NorstellaLinQ’s linked claims and EHR database. Adults initiating a GLP-1 RA between January 2024 and March 2026 were identified via NDC codes for obesity-indicated formulations of tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Wegovy injectable; Wegovy oral). Index date was defined as first fill. BMI outcomes were assessed among initiators with a valid EHR weight measurement within 12 months pre-index and 6-9 months post-index. Analyses were descriptive and no comparative adjustment was performed.
RESULTS: Of 3,171,331 initiators, 50.0% received tirzepatide, 46.5% injectable semaglutide, and 3.5% oral semaglutide. Mean baseline BMI among patients with available EHR vitals was 36.9 ± 7.6 kg/m². Among patients with paired pre- and post-index BMI measurements (n=85,461), tirzepatide showed a mean BMI reduction of 2.3 kg/m² (6.3%) at 6 months versus 1.6 kg/m² (4.2%) for semaglutide injectable. Observed ≥5% BMI reduction was achieved in 52.8% of tirzepatide initiators versus 43.6% of semaglutide initiators; ≥10% reduction in 33.5% versus 23.4%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: In this large real-world linked claims-EHR cohort, patients initiating tirzepatide experienced greater observed BMI reductions than those initiating semaglutide over six months. Integration of exact longitudinal EHR height and weight measurements with pharmacy claims enables scalable assessment of real-world weight-loss outcomes beyond what can be inferred from claims alone, supporting future comparative effectiveness, HEOR, and HTA research.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
RWD9
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Economic Evaluation, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Data Protection, Integrity, & Quality Assurance, Health & Insurance Records Systems, Reproducibility & Replicability
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas