Respiratory Effects of Treatment with a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist in Patients Suffering from Obesity and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flowchart of the trial. Flowchart from screening to data analyses in the liraglutide group and placebo group. Reasons for discontinuation are listed in the boxes.

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of Anthropometric Measures, Pulmonary Variables, Inflammation Markers and 6-Min Walking Test in the Liraglutide Group and Placebo Group

Group Characteristics	Liraglutide 3.0 mg (n = 20)	Placebo (n = 20)	p
Age (years)	64.0 ± 8.4	65.3 ± 6.7	NS
Male/female	13/7	11/9	NS
Bodyweight (kg)	104.4 ± 13.6	102.5 ± 18.0	NS
BMI (kg/m^2)	35.1 ± 3.7	36.6 ± 5.6	NS
Waist: hip ratio	1.07 ± 0.08	1.04 ± 0.09	NS
FEV1 (L)	1.8 ± 0.67	1.4 ± 0.67	NS (p = 0.056)
FEV1 (%)	62.8 ± 17.8	50.3 ± 20.2	< 0.05
FEV1/FVC (%)	57.6 ± 9.4	48.2 ± 11.9	<0.05
FVC (L)	3.16 ± 1.01	2.83 ± 0.99	NS
FVC (%)	86.4 ± 19.1	81.5 ± 19.3	NS
TLC (%)	106 ± 18	114 ± 22	NS
DLCO (%)	67.3 ± 25.1	52.2 ± 24.3	NS
RV (%)	147 ± 48	176 ± 53	NS
MRC score	2.05 ± 1.08	3 ± 1.06	0.01
Eosinophils (10E9/L)	0.19 ± 0.12	0.16 ± 0.11	NS
Number of exacerbations the year before inclusion	0.56 ± 0.70	0.77 ± 0.90	NS
CCI	3.26 ± 1.10	3.26 ± 1.05	NS
CAT-score	15.4 ± 6.1	17.8 ± 5.8	NS
6-min walking distance (m)	419 ± 91	308 ± 138	<0.01
CRP (mg/L)	5.3 ± 7.7	5.4 ± 4.7	NS
IL-6 (pg/mL)	5.3 ± 3.2	6.4 ± 3.6	NS
MCP-1 (pg/mL)	274 ± 95	281 ± 63	NS

Notes: Data are the mean ± SD. Sex is given in numbers. Significant changes between groups are given with p-values.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CCI, Charlson Comorbidity Index; CRP, C reactive protein; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC, forced vital capacity; CAT-score, COPD assessment test score; IL-6, Interleukin 6; MCP-1, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1; TLC, total lung capacity; DLCO, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; RV, residual volume; NS, non-significant.

Table 2 Average Baseline-Adjusted Group Differences (Liraglutide – Placebo) in Bodyweight, Pulmonary Variables, and 6-Min Walking Distance

Variable	Study Visit				p
	Week 4	Week 20	Week 40	Week 44	Week 40	Week 44
Bodyweight (kg)	−4.9	−8.2	−8.4	−7.1	<0.01	<0.01
FEV1 (L)	0.019	0.056	0.106	−0.041	NS	NS
FEV1 (%)	0.28	1.64	2.94	−3.23	NS	NS
FEV1/FVC (%)	−1.3	−0.9	−0.5	−1.4	NS	NS
FVC (L)	0.06	0.18	0.33	0.04	<0.01	NS
FVC (%)	1.67	4.96	7.69	−0.00	<0.05	NS
TLC (%)	−9.74	−1.02	0.97	−9.13	NS	<0.05
DLCO (%)	3.49	0.56	9.67	1.89	<0.05	NS
RV (%)	−7.83	−8.55	−9.62	−19.81	NS	<0.05
CAT-score	−1.23	−0.18	−3.94	−0.68	<0.05	NS
6-min walking distance (m)	3.8	−2.8	27.9	19.3	NS	NS
CRP (mg/L)	−0.24	−0.83	−2.22	−0.62	NS	NS
IL-6 (pg(mL)	1.31	1.35	−0.25	−0.08	NS	NS
MCP-1 (pg/mL)	4.11	−16.66	6.56	−30.93	NS	NS

Note: p-values are specified for week 40 (effect of liraglutide and weight loss) and week 44 (effect of weight loss after cessation of liraglutide treatment).