Weight Loss Drugs Can Improve Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure and Obesity: Sandra Chaparro, MD

In this interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Sandra Chaparro, MD, director of Advanced Heart Failure at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, explains how a specific class of obesity medications is being integrated into the care of patients who have both heart failure and obesity. Although these agents are widely known for their role in weight loss, Chaparro underscores that their value in this population goes beyond body weight reduction, extending to improved cardiovascular outcomes and enhanced overall well-being.

Chaparro notes that for patients with heart failure who meet established criteria for obesity, this class of medications can help them feel better and become more active, which in turn supports broader lifestyle modification goals. However, she stresses that these drugs must be prescribed and managed thoughtfully. A key concern is muscle mass loss, a potential side effect that is particularly important in already vulnerable patients with heart failure.

To mitigate this risk, the Chaparro recommends pairing pharmacologic therapy with light resistance or weight training and nutritional support. This combined approach can help preserve lean body mass while patients lose excess weight, making it easier for them to increase physical activity and sustain healthier habits over time.

Chaparro also highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and dose titration. She explains that care teams, often including pharmacists, should closely follow patients to track side effects, adjust doses, and ensure that the benefits of therapy clearly outweigh the risks.

Finally, she emphasizes that responsibility for prescribing and monitoring these obesity medications should not be limited to one medical specialty. Instead, the drugs should be managed by whichever health care professional is most closely involved in the patient’s longitudinal care and best positioned to monitor for safety, efficacy, and adherence over time.