New research from the European Association for the Study of Obesity reveals obesity drugs can lead to significant blood pressure reductions, highlighting their potential in managing hypertension.
A recent meta-analysis conducted by researchers at Leiden University Medical Center and the University Health Network/University of Toronto has shown that new classes of obesity drugs used for weight loss are associated with a clinically relevant drop in blood pressure. The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, found that use of these drugs is linked to a reduction of 0.34 mmHg in systolic blood pressure per 1% weight loss.
The analysis was based on data from 32 Phase III clinical trials involving over 43,600 adults with overweight or obesity. The study extracted placebo-adjusted changes in body weight and blood pressure using treatment policy estimands to reflect the average effect across all participants assigned to each group. Across all agents and doses, the mean weight loss was -10.9% accompanied by a systolic BP reduction of -5.2 mmHg.
The statistical analysis revealed that 77% of the variance in blood pressure (BP) reductions could be attributed to the magnitude of weight loss with GLP-1 receptor agonists and multi-hormone receptor modulators, corresponding to a 0.34 mmHg reduction in systolic BP per 1% weight loss. This relationship remained consistent even after adjusting for study duration, baseline BMI, sex distribution, and diabetes status.
The findings suggest that these drugs not only aid in weight management but also have the potential to lower blood pressure. The authors note that while these drugs may directly relax blood vessels or improve kidney salt handling, they can also exert effects independent of weight loss.
"This relationship highlights the clinically relevant - yet often underappreciated - BP-lowering potential of these drugs," said Dr. Marcel Muskiet from Leiden University Medical Center. "These results support a meaningful role for these medications in blood pressure management among individuals with overweight or obesity."
The study has several limitations, including reliance on trial-level data rather than individual patient-level information and variability across different trials. However, the overall findings were consistent across multiple analyses.
"These findings underscore the need for targeted mechanistic and clinical studies to better understand both weight-dependent and weight-independent effects of these drugs," added Andrew Zinin from Science X.
The research team is currently investigating further through larger clinical trials and smaller studies that evaluate blood pressure alongside weight loss. Mechanistic studies are also underway to explore acute effects on cardiac and vascular function, kidney physiology, and neurohormonal pathways.
These results provide valuable insights into the potential of obesity drugs for managing hypertension, particularly in individuals with overweight or obesity. Further research is needed to fully elucidate their mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies.
