【双语阅读】本周封面:肥胖解药何在(下)

文摘   2024-09-03 18:33   北京  

‘Miracle cure’

Hailed by some in the media a as “miracle cure” for obesity, semaglutide was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 as a treatment for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Ozempic. Originally used to manage blood sugar levels, the drug was also found to help decrease appetite, slow digestion and speed up the metabolism—the effect being that people taking the weekly injection tend to eat less and thus lose weight.

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1drug Ozempic was approved in China for use in weight loss in June 2024.

国内有四款减肥的GLP-1药物,原本可用于降糖。司美格鲁肽最负盛名,全球年销售额直追抗肿瘤药的“药王”——默沙东“K药”(帕博利珠单抗,商品名:可瑞达)地位,2024年6月在国内获批减肥。礼来的替尔泊肽则以“挑战者”姿态出现,除了靶向GLP-1,还靶向GIP,两个靶点可以在调控能量代谢方面互补,理论上效果更优,2024年7月在国内获批减肥。


The rise of GLP-1 drugs has opened new possibilities for combating obesity in China, but challenges and risks remain. The high cost of these medications and the lack of comprehensive insurance coverage in many regions, including China, limit their accessibility.

In China, a 1.5 ml injection of semaglutide is priced at 470 yuan if purchased through a hospital, while on e-commerce websites, the same injection is priced between 500 and 850 yuan.


But while GLP-1 drugs have helped patients achieve initial weight loss, long-term success remains elusive. Studies indicate that more than half of the patients who use these drugs regain significant weight within two years, and over 80% within five years, according to Yu Miao, chief physician and professor of the endocrinology department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

最早一批用药者正陷入“停药即反弹”的焦虑。北京协和医院内分泌科主任医师、教授于淼在一次科普会议上提到,有多达29项关于长期减重的研究指出,使用GLP-1药物后,两年内反弹的比例超过一半,五年内反弹超过八成,仅有约10%的患者停药后能基本维持。


Experts hope to change that by pairing the more passive traditional approach, such as lifestyle changes, with GLP-1 drugs.

The new guidelines mark a significant change, allowing overweight patients to begin medication if lifestyle interventions do not yield at least a 5% weight loss within three months.

2024年7月,中华医学会内分泌学分会发布《肥胖患者的长期体重管理及药物临床应用指南》(下称《指南》)。其中提出:生活方式干预可以与药物治疗并行。比如,在初始就让肥胖者用药;超重者则在生活方式干预效果不佳、3个月减重小于5%的时候,尽早启用药物治疗。


For individuals like Liu Ping, adopting such an approach has already been life changing. Initially attempting to lose weight through strict diet and exercise plans prescribed by a nutritionist, Liu found the regimen not only demanding, but also costly, with monthly expenses of approximately 7,000 yuan. He eventually turned to medication and achieved significant weight loss, shedding over 30 pounds in under a year by using GLP-1 drugs.

Experts emphasize that the new guidelines provide a clear path for clinicians to follow regarding the use of obesity medications, outlining how and when these drugs should be prescribed and managed.

《指南》还为临床合理用药提供了可循路径。“肥胖药物这两年才到临床,大家不是太熟悉。”曲伸说,《指南》专门针对肥胖药物的临床应用及常见问题,详细介绍了现有药物的应用方法、注意事项、适应证以及用多久、怎么用的问题。“什么时候用药、如何用、用多久、何时停,给临床医生提供了合理的医学依据,设定了合理的治疗方案。”


The guidelines also address the need for long-term management, rather than focusing solely on short-term weight loss, said Qu Xin, an obesity expert at Shanghai’s SinoUnited Health Clinic, a pioneer in establishing obesity centers across China. This reflects a growing consensus among experts that sustainable weight management requires ongoing support and medical intervention, particularly for those with metabolic disorders and other health complications associated with obesity.

一名肥胖者的理想诊疗路径应该是什么样的?他或主动就诊,或在社区、体检筛查中被提示就诊,来到医院后,医生会通过BMI、腰围等初步评估肥胖状况,若需要做体重管理,则再进行一系列检查如病因评估、代谢及合并症评估,最终医生下综合诊断,并帮助患者设立减肥目标、实施减肥策略。


The concept of stratified and phased diagnosis and treatment of obesity is also highlighted, dividing management into an intensive treatment period and a maintenance period, providing recommendations on when to use drugs, how to use them and for how long, and when to stop, said Qu.

Neither medications nor lifestyle interventions alone can achieve long-term weight control, said Luo Yingying, deputy chief physician at the department of endocrinology at Peking University People’s Hospital. Studies have shown that this combined approach leads to better outcomes in terms of body fat reduction, cardiovascular health, and metabolic function compared to either method alone, Luo told the Beijing conference.

罗樱樱指出,研究已经发现,从体脂率下降幅度、心肺耐力、代谢健康等多个维度来看,生活方式干预联合药物治疗的长期疗效,优于单纯的生活方式干预和药物治疗。


How to effectively combine the two methods and in which order they should be implemented is a question that still needs to be studied, she said.

Where are the patients?

Oddly, despite the ballooning number of people considered obese in China and the proven efficacy of the medication, fewer than 20% of those affected take the initiative to seek treatment in hospitals, according to Qu. This disparity leaves clinicians questioning: Where are the patients?


“Many obese individuals believe they can manage their weight independently or rely on unverified methods like diet adjustments or over-the-counter products,” said Qu. "By the time they come to the hospital, their condition is often severe, complicating treatment. We advocate for early intervention to prevent repeated failures and loss of control.”

In more severe cases, avoiding medical care can have dire consequences. Liu Sibo, 33, who has a BMI over 44, ignored high blood sugar levels and delayed treatment until complications from diabetes forced her to have weight-loss surgery. Sadly, she became permanently blind in one eye.

最坏的情况是,肥胖引发并发症,患者又讳疾忌医,导致身体受到不可逆的损害。

 

刘思博33岁,BMI一度超过44,她早就被发现血糖过高,但拒绝就医,延误了治疗;直到一系列糖尿病并发症暴发,医生告诉她“要么瘦,要么死”。她最终做了减重手术,但一只眼睛已无法挽救,永久失明。


The reluctance of obese individuals to seek medical help may also be driven by stigma and confusion about available treatments. Liu Sibo shared her hesitancy to diagnose and treat her diabetes due to fear of further social rejection and isolation.

为什么会出现用药人群错配?肥胖者因何不愿前往医院?这背后或许存在着个体的病耻感。


Compounding this issue is the fragmented nature of obesity treatment in China’s healthcare system. Patients often face inconsistent advice and treatment plans depending on which department or doctor they consult.
A surgeon carries out gastric reduction surgery in Hefei.

Patients can receive vastly different recommendations based on whether they see a nutritionist, an endocrinologist, or a surgeon, leaving them confused and unsure of the best path forward, said Zhang Peng, a leading physician in weight loss and metabolic surgery at Beijing Friendship Hospital.

这种情况在肥胖者中相当普遍。“病人很困惑。”在中国肥胖大会上,北京友谊医院减重及代谢外科副主任、主任医师张鹏直言现在肥胖者就诊时可能遇到的困境:“一个医生一个想法,十个医生十个方案,去营养科首选营养,去减重外科首选手术,去中医科首选扎针。甚至同一个科室想法也不一样,营养科这个医生用‘5+2’,那个用‘16+8’,这个用生酮,那个用低卡——患者:‘我到底怎么办?’”


Conversely, people within a normal weight range or even underweight are increasingly seeking medical interventions to cut the pounds, leading to a misuse of resources and increased risk of abuse of medications.

Chen Wei, deputy director of clinical nutrition at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, cited a case involving a professional model with a BMI of 16.5, which is generally regarded as “severely underweight” and a potential indication of anorexia nervosa, who insisted on using the medication to control her weight despite the health risks.

另一个极端是,很多体重在正常范围甚至偏瘦的人,却积极寻求减肥手段。这种人群错配会导致诊疗资源的浪费,滥用药物的风险也令人忧虑。


While GLP-1 drugs are prescription medications in the U.S., they are available through e-commerce platforms without a doctor’s consent in China. Clinicians warn that self-medicating without proper guidance is dangerous. Yu from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital has seen patients suffer severe reactions, such as vomiting and electrolyte imbalances, after unsupervised use of weight-loss drugs.

多位临床医生反复强调,要在医生指导下用药,要在适应证内用药。在医院,要想开GLP-1药物减重,患者需要先挂内分泌或减重门诊,由医生评估其是否符合超重、肥胖标准,要做血液、尿液、甲状腺彩超等一系列检查,且不属于用药禁忌人群才可开具处方。医生会充分告知用药风险,并要求患者定期复查,以作用药剂量的调整。


Overhaul needed

The new guidelines come amid a growing recognition that the current medical approach to treating this complex condition needs a significant overhaul.

肥胖是一种影响全身系统的慢性病,发病率还在逐渐上升。从公共卫生角度探讨应对之道,不可避免要重新审视专科医生乃至医院的诊疗流程设置。


“Under the current specialty training model at medical schools, no single specialty department can meet all the needs of obese patients,” says Zhang Yuqing, chief physician at Beijing Fuwai Hospital’s intensive care ward for heart failure. Specialists, like heart surgeons treating obese patients with coronary heart disease, often lack the training or resources to provide comprehensive weight management advice, with this gap in knowledge highlighting the need for a more integrated approach, said Zhang.

多名专家均向财新表示,长期体重管理意味着一套系统性、个性化、多学科的治疗方案。这代表患者很难指望通过一位专家、一个科室,就能找出满意的治疗方案。为适应新的肥胖防治理念,诊疗流程和模式的改革势在必行。


Experts argue that effective obesity treatment requires long-term, personalized care that involves multiple medical disciplines. Qu from SinoUnited Health Clinic, advocates for a “one-stop” approach. His newly established center allows patients to see specialists from various fields, including internal medicine, surgery, nutrition, and psychiatry, all under one roof.

Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment (MDT) models, which bring together various specialists to create a unified treatment plan, are not new; they are already widely used in treating complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions. The National Health Commission and 16 other ministries in June recommended MDT for obesity treatment.

张忠涛认为,现阶段多学科诊疗(MDT)是最可行的解决方案。“把传统的学科打乱组建一个肥胖诊疗科,短时间内很难做到。而在门诊建立一站式、以病人为中心的体重管理中心,多学科医生来到中心共同诊断和治疗,是比较现实的。”


However, there are some complications with implementing MDT. Most obesity treatments are not covered by national health insurance, making it less appealing for departments to participate without clear financial incentives. Zhang from Beijing Friendship Hospital emphasized that fair distribution of payments among departments is crucial for MDT to succeed.

在这种情况下,绩效分配是否公平、合理,直接影响到各科室参与MDT的意愿。“这几年我在公立医院尝试了多种MDT模式,可以说不断碰壁。”张鹏在中国肥胖大会上分享道,“短期内可以谈情怀,长期还是要谈绩效。”


Looking ahead, experts like Qu advocate for decentralizing obesity treatment to community health service centers, where early intervention can be more accessible. He emphasized the importance of integrating obesity management into general health education, starting from medical schools. Currently, China lacks specialized training in obesity medicine, and many doctors acquire relevant knowledge only through workshops and conferences.

医学不断完善的同时,观念进步和环境打造,更是肥胖治疗变革的关键。曲伸认为,未来体重管理的大趋势应该是下沉到社区,每个社区卫生服务中心都能够配备相应的专业人才和硬件,让肥胖患者得到更及时、更便捷的早期干预。“毕竟肥胖是一类现代化疾病,需要列入教科书进行知识更新和理念教育。”他说。


Writing by Denise Jia




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