From the Guidelines
Wegovy (semaglutide) significantly reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, by approximately 20% in adults with obesity or overweight and established cardiovascular disease. This is based on a recent trial involving over 17,600 participants, where major cardiovascular events occurred in 6.5% of those treated with Wegovy, compared with 8% in the placebo group 1. The medication offers substantial benefits beyond weight loss, including improvements in cholesterol profiles, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein.
Some of the key benefits of Wegovy include:
- Reducing the risk of cardiovascular death by 20% in the SELECT trial 1
- Lowering blood pressure, typically by 3-6 mmHg
- Improving cholesterol profiles by decreasing LDL and triglycerides while increasing HDL
- Enhancing glucose metabolism
- Reducing visceral fat, which is particularly harmful to cardiovascular health
The cardiovascular protection provided by Wegovy appears to occur relatively quickly after starting treatment and extends beyond what would be expected from weight loss alone, suggesting direct cardioprotective effects of the medication 1. Overall, Wegovy is a valuable treatment option for adults with obesity or overweight and established cardiovascular disease, offering significant cardiovascular benefits beyond weight loss.
From the Research
Cardiovascular Benefits of Wegovy
The medication Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, has been studied for its potential cardiovascular benefits.
- Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes 2, 3, 4.
- The SELECT trial, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial, is testing the superiority of semaglutide 2.4 mg subcutaneously once weekly in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity but without diabetes 5.
- Studies have demonstrated that GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide and semaglutide, can reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke, in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk 2, 3.
- The cardiovascular efficacy of liraglutide and semaglutide has been evaluated in patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease, and both therapies have been shown to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in these patients 3.
- Additionally, the effects of liraglutide and semaglutide on cardiovascular and renal outcomes have been analyzed across body mass index categories in type 2 diabetes, and the results suggest that these therapies may be beneficial for many patients, regardless of their baseline body mass index 4.
Key Findings
- Semaglutide has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk 2, 3, 4.
- The SELECT trial is ongoing to evaluate the superiority of semaglutide in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity but without diabetes 5.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide and semaglutide, have been demonstrated to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk 2, 3.