Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, has demonstrated significant cardioprotective benefits, particularly for overweight or obese individuals with kidney disease. A new clinical trial presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Madrid revealed that semaglutide reduced heart health risk by 20% in heavyset people over a three-year period.
Cardioprotective Effects in Kidney Disease
The study, led by Helen Colhoun from the University of Edinburgh, found that semaglutide showed a similar percentage reduction in cardiovascular disease in participants both with and without poor kidney function. Colhoun emphasized that individuals with impaired kidney function, who face a higher baseline risk of cardiovascular disease, experienced the greatest absolute benefit. Semaglutide reduced the risk of heart health problems by 31% and overall risk of death by 33% in people with kidney disease.
Trial Details and Patient Population
The clinical trial involved over 17,600 overweight or obese participants worldwide who were randomly assigned to receive either semaglutide or a placebo for an average of 40 months. Participants had a history of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease but did not have diabetes. Researchers monitored the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and other major heart-related health problems.
Additional Benefits Beyond Weight Loss
Further analysis from the SELECT trial, which included over 17,000 people with heart disease but not diabetes, showed that semaglutide reduced the odds of death from all causes compared to a placebo. Women appeared to gain more heart-health benefits from the drug compared to men, though both sexes saw reductions in heart-related events. Semaglutide also appeared to mitigate the worst effects of COVID-19; obese or overweight individuals taking the drug had similar COVID-19 infection rates as those on placebo, but were less likely to die from the disease.
Impact on Heart Failure
Data from the FLOW trial, involving over 3,500 people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, indicated that semaglutide at a 1 mg dose lowered the odds of new-onset heart failure or hospitalization for heart failure compared to placebo. Sub-studies from the STEP-HFpEF program also demonstrated that semaglutide (2.4 mg) improved heart failure-related symptoms, physical limitations, and exercise function in obese individuals with heart failure. The drug also reduced levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP), regardless of weight loss.
Expert Commentary
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), noted that these findings show that semaglutide medications are poised to revolutionize cardiovascular care and could dramatically enhance cardiovascular health. He added that the portfolio of publications, derived from three major trials, significantly advances our understanding of the wide-ranging benefits of GLP-1 agonists.
