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Semaglutide Treatment Reduces Heart Failure Symptoms in Obese Patients
Obese heart failure patients with preserved ejection fractions have reduced symptoms when treated with 2.4 mg of semaglutide.
Yesterday, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a randomized study, which revealed that semaglutide can help manage heart failure symptoms in obese patients with preserved ejection fraction.
The study states, “Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasing in prevalence and is associated with a high symptom burden and functional impairment, especially in persons with obesity.” However, no tool currently exists for treating obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
The study recruited 529 patients who had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. All the participants had a BMI of 30 or greater. For the one-year duration of the study, participants were assigned to a placebo or experimental group, which received a once-weekly dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide.
Before the study, researchers assessed heart failure symptoms using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score (KCCQ-CSS). Patients received a score of 0–100, where higher scores indicated better physical health. Additionally, baseline weight was recorded for each patient.
The researchers found that patients assigned to the semaglutide group had a 16.6-point improvement on the KCCQ-CSS scale, nearly double the 8.7-point change in the placebo group. In addition, the patients taking semaglutide had an average body weight reduction of 13.3%, while those taking the placebo only had an average body weight reduction of 2.6%.
Beyond these primary endpoints, the scientists also looked at the change in the six-minute walk distance and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. Researchers found that the six-minute walk distance changed by 21.5 m for the semaglutide group and 1.2 m for the placebo group.
“In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity, treatment with semaglutide (2.4 mg) led to larger reductions in symptoms and physical limitations, greater improvements in exercise function, and greater weight loss than placebo,” concluded researchers in the study.
However, it is essential to note that the trial was funded by Novo Nordisk, a significant manufacturer of semaglutide, which may be a conflict of interest.
