Macy Baugh - Department of Cardiology
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are recognized for their therapeutic role in managing glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. These agents mimic the action of the naturally occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), enhancing insulin secretion. Beyond their established use in diabetes treatment, semaglutide has also been shown to be beneficial in treating obesity and improving cardiovascular health in diabetic patients.
This study specifically investigated whether semaglutide could reduce the cardiovascular risk associated with obesity in the absence of diabetes. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving individuals aged 45 or older with preexisting cardiovascular disease and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater but without diabetes, weekly subcutaneous semaglutide injections at a 2.4 mg dose proved superior to the placebo. The intervention significantly reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events such as death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal heart attack, or nonfatal stroke over a mean follow-up period of 39.8 months.
These findings have direct implications for clinical practice, urging healthcare providers to consider semaglutide use in individuals with cardiovascular disease and obesity, even in the absence of diabetes. While prior research predominantly focused on the glycemic control benefits of semaglutides in diabetic patients, this study broadens our understanding of their potential cardioprotective benefits in a unique patient group. This expands the potential application of semaglutides beyond their established role in diabetes management. Given the global impact of cardiovascular disease as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, the demonstrated efficacy of medications like semaglutide in reducing cardiovascular events could have a substantial impact on public health.
References:
Lincoff, A. M., Brown‐Frandsen, K., Colhoun, H. M., Deanfield, J., Emerson, S. S., Esbjerg, S., Hardt‐Lindberg, S., Hovingh, G. K., Kahn, S. E., Kushner, R. F., Lingvay, I., Oral, T. K., Michelsen, M. M., Plutzky, J., Tornøe, C. W., & Ryan, D. H. (2023, December 14). Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2307563
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