Endocrine Abstracts

Aims

To compare baseline demographical and anthropometrical characteristics of patients referred to the multi-disciplinary weight management clinic at University Hospital Nottingham during 2003 with patients referred in 2001, co- morbidities, treatments used and achievement of the desired outcome of realization of 5 or 10 percent weight loss sustained over a 6-month period of follow-up.

Results and Discussion

We audited 49 consecutive new referrals to the clinic from 1st January - 31st December 2003 by retrospective case note evaluation comparing them to 58 new patients referred over a similar period in 2001.

66 percent were referred from primary care in 2003 compared to 73.5 percent in 2001. Mean age 41.6 versus 41.06 in 2001. 82 versus 72 percent were female. 31 percent had type-2 diabetes versus 13.7 percent, 31 percent hypertension versus 33 percent in 2001 respectively.

In 2003, 29 percent had asthma (versus 22.5 percent in 2001) 45 percent arthritis (versus 68.1 percent) and 14 percent obstructive sleep apnoea (versus 14.7 percent).

Mean referral BMI in 2003 was 49.7 kg m ^-2 (range 32.7- 74.2) versus 46.4 (range 29.10-70.34).

Very low calorie diet (VLCD) was used in 60 percent patients in 2003, pharmacological treatment (Orlistat 14 percent and Sibutramine 8 percent) and surgery 10 percent. Comparatively, VLCD was used in 2.9 percent, Orlistat 9 percent and Sibutramine in 1 patient in 2001.

In 2003, 26 percent of patients were able to achieve 5-10 percent with 14 percent greater than 10 percent of initial weight loss respectively, sustained over a 6-month period of follow up compared to 10.3 percent and 10.3 percent in each respective weight loss group in 2001.

The clinic therefore was able to demonstrate a considerable improvement in achieving significant weight loss in a majority of patients compared to previously, with greater usage of VLCD, pharmacotherapy and surgery.