Semaglutide ‘shows promise’ for secondary CV prevention regardless of diabetes status
The trial included more than 17,000 patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity.
Adding semaglutide to standard care cuts the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiac events by 20% in adults with pre-existing cardiovascular disease but not diabetes, US-led doctors report.
Results from the Novo Nordisk–funded trial suggest the GLP-1 receptor agonist could be used for secondary cardiovascular prevention in those with overweight or obesity regardless of diabetes status.
The researchers randomly assigned 17,600 adults aged 45 or older who had pre-existing cardiovascular disease and an average BMI of 33kg/m2 to once weekly semaglutide 2.4mg or placebo.
Baseline medication use included lipid-lowering therapy (90%), antiplatelets (86%), beta blockers (70%), ACEIs (45%) and ARBs (30%).
