Semaglutide Delivers Major Heart Health Benefits

Semaglutide therapy considerably enhances well being outcomes for sufferers with coronary heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), displaying lowered dependency on loop diuretics, and enhancements in signs and bodily limitations.

Weight Loss Drug Linked With Diminished Want for Diuretics in Coronary heart Failure Sufferers

Semaglutide reduces the necessity for loop diuretic use and dose, and has constructive results on signs, bodily limitations, and physique weight in sufferers with coronary heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) no matter diuretic use, in line with late-breaking analysis introduced as we speak (Might 13) at Coronary heart Failure 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).^[1]

HFpEF is a situation during which the center pumps usually however is just too stiff to fill correctly, rendering the center unable to help the physique’s want for oxygen-rich blood. The situation is turning into extra frequent as populations age and ranges of weight problems and sedentary existence rise.^[2] Signs of HFpEF can embody shortness of breath – typically with exertion – fatigue, and swollen ankles.

Trials Present Important Advantages

The STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM trials evaluated once-weekly semaglutide therapy vs. placebo in sufferers with obesity-related HFpEF, with out and with diabetes, respectively.^[3,4] Each research confirmed a major enchancment with semaglutide for coronary heart failure signs, bodily limitations, weight reduction, and six-minute stroll distance in comparison with placebo. This pre-specified evaluation of pooled information from the 2 trials investigated whether or not the consequences of semaglutide vs. placebo various in line with baseline diuretic use. As well as, the consequences of semaglutide vs. placebo on adjustments in diuretic remedy use and dose through the trials had been evaluated.

Detailed Trial Outcomes

In each trials, sufferers had obesity-related HFpEF with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%, physique mass index ≥30 kg/m^[2], Kansas Metropolis Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Scientific Abstract Rating (KCCQ-CSS) <90, proof of elevated left ventricular filling pressures, structural coronary heart abnormalities plus elevated natriuretic peptides, or latest coronary heart failure hospitalization plus structural abnormalities or ongoing want for diuretic remedy. Sufferers had been randomized 1:1 to once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 52 weeks. The twin major endpoints had been change in KCCQ-CSS (a typical measure of coronary heart failure-related signs and bodily limitations) and proportion change in physique weight from baseline to 52 weeks. Sufferers had been stratified by baseline diuretic use (none, non-loop diuretic solely, loop diuretic).

A complete of 1,145 sufferers had been included (529 in STEP-HFpEF and 616 in STEP-HFpEF DM) from 129 websites throughout 18 nations in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. The common age was ~70 years and ~50% had been girls. At baseline, 220 sufferers weren’t receiving diuretics, 223 had been receiving non-loop diuretics solely, and 702 had been receiving loop diuretics.

Relating to the primary major endpoint of change in coronary heart failure-related signs and bodily limitations from baseline to 52 weeks, semaglutide improved KCCQ-CSS in all diuretic subgroups, however the magnitude of enchancment was larger in sufferers receiving loop diuretics in comparison with these not on loop diuretics, with an adjusted imply distinction vs. placebo of +9.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] +6.5, +12.1) vs. +4.7 factors (+1.3, +8.2), respectively; p interplay=0.042.

For the second major endpoint of proportion change in physique weight from baseline to 52 weeks, semaglutide had a constant helpful impact throughout diuretic use classes. The adjusted imply distinction vs. placebo ranged from -8.8% (95% CI -10.3, -6.3) to -6.9% (95% CI -9.1, -4.7) from no diuretics to the best loop diuretic dose class; p interplay=0.39. Semaglutide had constant helpful results on all secondary efficacy endpoints (together with six-minute stroll distance) throughout diuretic subgroups (p interplay=0.24-0.92).

Between baseline and 52 weeks, loop diuretic dose decreased by 17% within the semaglutide group vs. a 2.4% enhance within the placebo group (p<0.0001). Semaglutide (vs. placebo) was extra more likely to end in loop diuretic dose discount (odds ratio [OR] 2.67, 95% CI 1.70, 4.18) and fewer more likely to end in loop diuretic dose enhance (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.23, 0.53); p<0.001 for each. There have been fewer critical hostile occasions with semaglutide vs. placebo throughout diuretic subgroups.

Conclusion by Dr. Kavita Sharma

Research writer Dr. Kavita Sharma of Johns Hopkins College College of Drugs, Baltimore, US, mentioned: “Semaglutide improved signs, bodily limitations and led to larger weight reduction throughout diuretic use classes in sufferers with HFpEF. As well as, there was proof of a major discount in common loop diuretic dose, a decrease probability of diuretic therapy escalation, and a larger probability of diuretic therapy de-escalation with semaglutide versus placebo – parameters that point out disease-modifying results of semaglutide, and are related to higher long-term scientific outcomes on this affected person inhabitants.”

Notes

1. The STEP-HFpEF evaluation can be introduced through the session ‘Late Breaking Clinical trials: LVAD, HFpEF and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy’ which takes place on Might 13, 2024 at 13:57 WEST in Room 1.
2. “Coronary heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: JACC Scientific Assertion” by Barry A. Borlaug, Kavita Sharma, Sanjiv J. Shah and Jennifer E. Ho, 1 Might 2023, Journal of the American School of Cardiology.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2023.01.049
3. “Semaglutide in Sufferers with Coronary heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Weight problems” by Mikhail N. Kosiborod, Steen Z. Abildstrøm, Barry A. Borlaug, Javed Butler, Søren Rasmussen, Melanie Davies, G. Kees Hovingh, Dalane W. Kitzman, Marie L. Lindegaard, Daniél V. Møller, Sanjiv J. Shah, Marianne B. Treppendahl, Subodh Verma, Walter Abhayaratna, Fozia Z. Ahmed, Vijay Chopra, Justin Ezekowitz, Michael Fu, Hiroshi Ito, Małgorzata Lelonek, Vojtech Melenovsky, Bela Merkely, Julio Núñez, Eduardo Perna, Morten Schou, Michele Senni, Kavita Sharma, Peter Van der Meer, Dirk von Lewinski, Dennis Wolf and Mark C Petrie, 20 September 2023, New England Journal of Drugs.
   DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2306963
4. “Semaglutide in Sufferers with Weight problems-Associated Coronary heart Failure and Sort 2 Diabetes” by Mikhail N. Kosiborod, Mark C. Petrie, Barry A. Borlaug, Javed Butler, Melanie J. Davies, G. Kees Hovingh, Dalane W. Kitzman, Daniél V. Møller, Marianne B. Treppendahl, Subodh Verma, Thomas J. Jensen, Karoline Liisberg, Marie L. Lindegaard, Walter Abhayaratna, Fozia Z. Ahmed, Tuvia Ben-Gal, Vijay Chopra, Justin A. Ezekowitz, Michael Fu, Hiroshi Ito, Małgorzata Lelonek, Vojtěch Melenovský, Bela Merkely, Julio Núñez, Eduardo Perna, Morten Schou, Michele Senni, Kavita Sharma, Peter van der Meer, Dirk Von Lewinski, Dennis Wolf and Sanjiv J. Shah, 17 April 2024, New England Journal of Drugs.
   DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2313917

Funding: The STEP-HFpEF Programme was funded by Novo Nordisk.