Weight loss drug’s heart benefits extend to people with heart failure
In a recent study (Lincoff, 2023) in The Lancet, found similar cardiovascular benefits for a subgroup of study participants who were also judged to have heart failure at the start of the trial.
Why is this important?
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has been shown to reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes. Whether semaglutide can reduce cardiovascular risk associated with being overweight or obese in the absence of diabetes is unknown.
What did the study show?
A total of 17,604 patients were enrolled; 8803 were assigned to receive semaglutide and 8801 to receive placebo.
The researchers looked at data from a subgroup of 4,286 people (with pre-existing heart failure) in the trial who were randomly assigned either semaglutide or a placebo – who were followed up over an average of more than three years.
They found that semaglutide was linked to a 28% reduction in major adverse cardiac events (12.3% in the placebo group had such events compared to 9.1% in the semaglutide group), as well as a 24% reduction in cardiovascular disease-related deaths for this subgroup of people with pre-existing heart failure, and a 19% reduction in deaths of any cause.
How does this help you?
If you have heart failure (without diabete), semaglutide, may help you. It may reduce your likelihood of further cardiovascular disease, and death. Why not ask your doctor if you can be considered for it.
Last Reviewed on 27 August 2024
