TThe diabetes drug semaglutide (also known by trade names such as Wegovy) has grabbed headlines for its ability to induce almost effortless weight loss.
But research points to benefits beyond the scale. This weight loss drug may also be good for your heart. In the SELECT trial, people without diabetes but whose body mass index (BMI) put them in the overweight or obese category had reduced rates of heart attack, stroke, and death after taking the drug.
“This is an important study because it is the first time that a weight loss drug has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, including the risk of death,” said Howard Weintraub, MD, clinical director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. I am. , part of New York University Langonehart. “SELECT results show semaglutide saves lives.”
Dr. Weintraub is one of the principal investigators of the SELECT trial, and below he details what you need to know about semaglutide and heart disease.
Semaglutide and heart health: What is the relationship?
During the four-year SELECT trial, people who took semaglutide had a reduced risk of heart disease and heart-related death. Semaglutide reduced the risk of death from heart disease, nonfatal heart attack, and nonfatal stroke by 20 percent in people who already had heart disease and were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes.
But there was also evidence that the risk of heart failure was reduced overall and that the kidneys were also protected. Underlying kidney disease can compromise cardiovascular health.
How does semaglutide protect the heart?
There is no doubt that the drug caused some changes in cardiovascular outcomes, but exactly what changed remains unclear. Semaglutide had no effect on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or blood pressure. All of these are associated with heart disease risk. But on average, patients lost about 10% of their weight. Is the decreased risk of heart disease due to the drug alone or due to decreased obesity? It’s unclear. But we do know that something is definitely going on to improve heart health.
Who should take semaglutide?
The best candidates for semaglutide are those who meet the inclusion criteria for the SELECT study: those who are overweight or obese and have cardiovascular disease.
Semaglutide (as Wegovy) is approved for use in patients who are overweight or obese and have weight-related medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The SELECT trial showed that this drug has the potential to help even more people. If you are not diabetic, but are overweight or obese and have cardiovascular disease, you should consult a cardiologist, and if you meet the criteria, you may be recommended.
