This study was based on the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes (SCOUT) trial, a randomized, double-blind comparison of sibutramine vs. placebo study for cardiovascular outcomes in overweight or obese subjects at increased risk of cardiovascular events. The authors’ primary hypothesis was that weight management with sibutramine, together with standard care for weight management, reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high-risk subjects to a greater extent than standard care alone. The authors therefore described cardiovascular responses to and main outcomes of sibutramine plus standard care for weight management among subjects during the single-blind, 6 week lead-in period in which all subjects received sibutramine to identify those potentially at risk of blood pressure or pulse rate increases. The authors found that 6 week treatment with sibutramine in concert with weight management seemed to be effective and well tolerated in high-risk subjects with cardiovascular disease.
Documentation centre