Individualized virtual integrative medicine (IVIM): A clinical model for enhanced GLP-1 therapeutic outcomes

Background

Here we show results of 1,131 patients on therapy with semaglutide who underwent a comprehensive clinical protocol utilizing the Individualized Virtual Integrative Medicine (IVIM) approach, evaluating the protocol as a comprehensive clinical care model for patients utilizing GLP-1 medications.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of patients who completed at least 365 days of the protocol while on GLP-1 therapy with semaglutide. Patients with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater were included. Patients were prescribed personalized therapy with semaglutide based on their weight reduction goals, insurance coverage, accessibility during the GLP-1 shortages of branded semaglutide, and socioeconomic factors.

Results

The cohort size was 1,131 patients who were prescribed semaglutide while on the IVIM protocol. A Linear Mixed Effects Model was used to test the relationship between time spent on the IVIM protocol and weight reduction. This model estimated a weight reduction coefficient of -0.739 lbs/week, providing a large z-statistic of -74.02 and a p value < 0.0001. Mean change in weight at 12-weeks for all patients was 14.9 lbs (6.5 %), 24-weeks: 28.6 lbs (12.6 %), 36-weeks: 36.8 lbs (16.4 %), 52-weeks: 45.95 lbs (19.5 %), and those who extended to 68-weeks lost: 46.9 lbs (21.8 %). The percentage of patients who lost at least 5 % of their body weight at 52 weeks was: 99.2 %, 10 % or more: 93.9 %, 15 % or more: 73.5 %, and 20 % or more: 47.8 %.

Conclusion

Patients with obesity completing 52 weeks of the IVIM clinical protocol on semaglutide lost 19.5 % of total body weight with 47.8 % of patients losing 20 % or more. The results of this study indicate the protocol is a novel method to enhance therapeutic medical weight reduction results via a structured, telehealth-based approach for obesity management.