A Retrospective Study of Body Weight Changes in Patients Receiving Cyproheptadine in A Hospital-Based Outpatient Setting in Thailand

Sirasit  Chansane; Woranat  Suntornsantoon; Pongpan  Chaiyapak; Daylia  Thet; Tippawan Siritientong

doi:10.22146/ijp.5776

Sirasit Chansane Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
Woranat Suntornsantoon Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
Pongpan Chaiyapak Pharmacy Department, Police General Hospital
Daylia Thet Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9946-6155
Tippawan Siritientong Department of Food and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7080-9903

Keywords: Appetite, Body weight, Cyproheptadine, Outpatients, Weight change

Abstract

Cyproheptadine has been used as an appetite stimulant to increase body weight in various population. This study aimed to determine the effect of cyproheptadine on weight changes in Thai patients. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in adult patients who were prescribed with cyproheptadine, having body weight records at 2 times consecutively during 12-month period at the medical outpatient department, the Police General Hospital, Thailand. Of 125 participants, 69.6% were females and the mean age was 78.38 (SD ± 11.68) years. Hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus were the most common underlying conditions. The mean body mass index (BMI) at 1^st visit was 21.16 (SD ± 3.64) kg/m². The mean body weight at 1^st and 2^nd visit were 52.46 (SD ± 11.11) kg, and 52.61 (SD ± 10.98) kg, respectively. Overall, there was no significant change in body weight between two visits. In underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²), the mean BMI decreased significantly in the 2^nd visit compared to 1^st visit (p = 0.044). At the 2^nd visit, older age and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were negatively associated with body weight (p < 0.05). The polypharmacy (odds ratio (OR), 0.778; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.616 – 0.982), the presence of hypertension (OR, 0.022; 95%. CI, 0.001 – 0.390) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (OR, 0.969; 95% CI, 0.942 – 0.996) were also negatively associated with abnormal BMI. Cyproheptadine might not improve the body weight of patients in this population. The factors associated with lower body weight in this study may be helpful in further research.

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