A recent international clinical trial indicates that tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound, a drug primarily used for weight loss and diabetes management, may offer significant benefits for patients with heart failure and obesity. The two-year study, involving 731 patients with diastolic heart failure and obesity, revealed that tirzepatide could reduce the risk of heart failure-related deaths and improve overall cardiac function.
Impact on Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
In nearly half of all heart failure cases, the left ventricle stiffens, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively, a condition known as diastolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Given the strong association between obesity and heart failure, researchers investigated whether tirzepatide, a weight-loss medication, could alleviate these cardiac issues.
The trial's findings, presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago and published across four journals, demonstrated that tirzepatide led to notable improvements in heart failure management. Patients treated with tirzepatide showed enhanced exercise capacity, measured by the distance they could walk in six minutes, and significant reductions in biological markers indicative of inflammation and the risk of severe heart events.
Clinical Outcomes and Weight Loss
During the two-year follow-up period, 36 participants in the tirzepatide group experienced death or worsening heart failure, compared to 56 participants who received a placebo. Furthermore, those on tirzepatide achieved an average weight loss of 11.6% of their body weight.
Effects on Cardiac Structure and Function
A companion study, using MRI, assessed the drug's impact on the heart's structure and function. The results indicated beneficial reductions in both the heart's weight and surrounding fat, suggesting that tirzepatide may reverse the adverse cardiac effects induced by obesity. According to Dr. Christopher Kramer, chief of cardiovascular medicine at UVA Health, "This drug is reversing the abnormal properties of the heart brought on by obesity," highlighting that the benefits extend beyond mere weight loss.
The side effects reported were primarily mild, including nausea and diarrhea.
Study Details
The trial was sponsored by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Zepbound. The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Circulation, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
