AHA: Semaglutide Cuts Risk for CVD Events in Patients Without Diabetes

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 14, 2023.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Nov. 13, 2023 -- Weekly subcutaneous semaglutide significantly cuts the incidence of cardiovascular death and nonfatal heart attacks and strokes in adults with preexisting cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity but no diabetes, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023, held from Nov. 11 to 13 in Philadelphia.

A. Michael Lincoff, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues assessed whether semaglutide can reduce cardiovascular risk associated with overweight and obesity in the absence of diabetes. The analysis included 17,604 patients (aged 45 years and older) with preexisting cardiovascular disease and a body mass index ≥27 kg/m2 who were randomly assigned to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide at a dose of 2.4 mg or placebo.

The researchers found that during a mean duration of exposure to semaglutide or placebo of 34.2 months and a mean follow-up of 39.8 months, a primary cardiovascular end-point event (death or nonfatal heart attack or stroke) occurred in 6.5 percent of the semaglutide group and in 8.0 percent of the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.80). Discontinuation due to adverse events occurred in 16.6 percent of participants in the semaglutide group and among 8.2 percent in the placebo group.

"The magnitude of the effect of semaglutide in the current trial was similar to that among patients with diabetes in previous studies (within the constraints of between-trial comparisons), which suggests that treatment with semaglutide could be applied more broadly for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in the expanding population of patients with overweight and obesity and atherosclerotic vascular disease," the authors write.

The study was funded by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords