A global survey asked healthcare providers which condition they are most eager to see GLP-1 medications approved for, and sleep apnea emerged as the top choice.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- GLP-1s for Sleep Apnea Lead Interest: A global survey by Sermo revealed that healthcare providers are most eager to see GLP-1 medications approved for sleep apnea, with 57% of respondents selecting this condition as their top choice.
- Chronic Conditions of Interest: Chronic heart failure (56%) and MASH/NASH (47%) followed closely as conditions providers hope GLP-1s can address.
- Need for Comprehensive Support: The findings highlight the growing interest in expanding GLP-1 use beyond weight loss to address complex health conditions, though providers emphasize the need for training and patient monitoring to support this shift.
The 35th Barometer from Sermo, a healthcare provider social engagement platform and provider of healthcare insights, revealed that healthcare providers are most eager to see GLP-1 medications be approved to treat sleep apnea.
The Barometer surveyed 1,150-plus global healthcare providers across specialties on their experience prescribing weight loss medications. In addition to sleep apnea, healthcare providers were most interested in seeing GLP-1 medications approved to treat chronic heart failure and MASH (formerly NASH).
The survey found that 57% were more interested in seeing GLP-1s approved for sleep apnea, followed by 56% for chronic heart failure, 47% for NASH, and 37% for chronic kidney disease.
“The expanding role of GLP-1 medications beyond weight loss, such as their potential to treat conditions like sleep apnea or chronic heart failure, represents an exciting shift in healthcare. For primary and family care, this evolution offers immense potential to address complex, interrelated conditions more effectively. However, it also underscores the need for comprehensive training and systems to support safe prescribing practices and close patient monitoring. As these therapies evolve, primary care will be at the forefront of integrating them into holistic, patient-centered management,” says Kyle Lee, BMLSc, BMBS, MPH, CCFP, Sermo medical advisory board member, in a release.
Survey Findings
Weight Loss Treatment Doesn’t Stop at GLP-1s:
- Two-thirds (67%) of healthcare providers report increasing metformin prescriptions for patients who don’t qualify for GLP-1s.
- Semaglutide medications are still the most popular weight loss medication to prescribe with 82% reporting they actively prescribe Ozempic, 65% reporting they actively prescribe Wegovy, and 37% prescribing Rybelsus.
Weight-Loss Care Trends: Certifications, Mental Health, and the Push for Oral GLP-1s:
- Certifications: Despite 81% reporting prescribing any medications for weight loss or a weight loss benefit in the past year, 67% of those surveyed report not having any Obesity Treatment Certification, such as the American Board of Obesity Medicine or European Association Study of Obesity Medicine.
- Impact on Mental Health: After metabolic health (35%), 16% of healthcare providers report mental health as a top area of improvement for patients who have been on weight loss medications for at least six months followed by self-esteem at 12%.
- Oral is the future: healthcare providers believe that oral medications are the future of GLP-1 medications, with 78% reporting that they think the majority of patients will want to switch to an oral form once available.
- Weight-Loss Goal Management: Only a third (33%) of healthcare providers are gradually weaning patients off weight loss medications once they’ve achieved their goal weight and less than a third (31%) are prescribing lower doses once the weight goal has been achieved.
Patients Taking Medication Dosage Into Their Own Hands
According to the LA Times, “some patients, with or without the help of doctors, are experimenting with ‘microdosing’ weight loss drugs—using smaller-than-recommended amounts—in order to stretch limited supplies, reduce costs, and even potentially curb side effects.”
- 91% of surveyed healthcare providers reported they are somewhat to very concerned about patients independently adjusting their prescribed medication doses.
- 75% of those who actively prescribe weight loss medications have had patients report side effects (in line with results from Sermo Barometer 31, October 2023 at 77%).
- The most common side effects patients report are nausea (55%), diarrhea (12%), and stomach pain (9%).
- Only 20% of healthcare providers reported that patients stopped taking medications because of side effects.
- 69% of healthcare providers report patients very often to often inquire about the cost of weight loss medications.
How Are Celeb Endorsements and Non-traditional Healthcare Settings Prescribing GLP-1s Impacting Patients?
- 78% of healthcare providers surveyed report that Hollywood, celebrities, and influencers’ embrace of GLP-1s for weight loss has harmed patients’ realistic expectations of the medication.
- 72% of healthcare providers believe non-traditional healthcare programs such as med spas and telemedicine companies prescribing weight loss medications are problematic.
- 71% reported lack of adequate patient education as the top concern followed by improper patient monitoring (65%) and lack of familiarity with side effects (52%).
- Only 11% of surveyed healthcare providers felt very confident in these non-traditional healthcare settings’ competency levels to manage weight loss medications.
- Due to recent reports of severe side effects associated with GLP-1 medications half (58%) of healthcare providers reported making changes in their practices to monitor patients more closely.
This survey was fielded from Nov 20- 22 as the 35th edition of Sermo’s ongoing Barometer study. The survey included 1,159 global healthcare professionals whose specialties ranged from primary care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, cardiologists, endocrinologists, OBGYNs, and pediatric medicine.
Photo caption: A Sermo global survey of 1,150-plus healthcare professionals examines expert perspectives on weight loss medications
Photo credit: Business Wire
