Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes researchJan 12, 2026

Healthcare use and medical costs in US patients with overweight or obesity and multiple health conditions treated with semaglutide

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Jun 27, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Semaglutide use was associated with lower medical costs in U.S. patients with overweight or obesity and multimorbidity.

Evidence

A retrospective propensity-matched Komodo Health claims cohort found semaglutide users had lower all-cause and obesity-related medical costs than obesity medication non-users, including 27% lower all-cause total medical costs over a mean 101-day follow-up.

Caveat

The nonrandomized claims design and short cost follow-up leave residual confounding and do not prove semaglutide caused the cost reductions.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Patients with overweight or obesity (OW/OB) are at increased risk for multimorbidity (≥2 obesity-related complications [ORCs]) and accompanying increases in mortality and excess costs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational cohort study using the Komodo Health claims database assessed healthcare resource utilization and medical costs in patients with OW/OB and multimorbidity who received semaglutide compared with propensity-score matched obesity medication non-users (controls).

RESULTS: Patients taking semaglutide (mean follow-up 101 days) had 27% lower all-cause total medical costs ($891 vs $1,213 per patient per month [PPPM]), 59% lower inpatient costs ($115 vs $283) and 18% lower outpatient costs ($746 vs $906) vs. controls (all < 0.0001). ORC-related total medical costs were 36% lower ($522 vs. $812 PPPM), inpatient costs were 59% lower ($107 vs $259) and outpatient costs were 26% lower ($399 vs $540) among patients taking semaglutide than controls (all < 0.0001). Use of semaglutide was associated with significant improvements in almost all cardiometabolic markers assessed from baseline to Weeks 52 and 104. p p

CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with semaglutide had lower all-cause and ORC-related total medical costs than non-users, with a yearly reduction of $3,870 and $3,482, respectively. Cost reductions were driven by significantly lower inpatient hospitalization rates and costs.

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Healthcare use and medical costs in US patients with overweight or obesity and multiple health conditions treated with semaglutide

Abstract

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