Research Finds Semaglutide's Cardiovascular Benefit Effective Even in Impaired Kidney Function Patients - Video

The anti-obesity medication semaglutide may help to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as well as death in adults with overweight or obesity who don’t have diabetes, whether or not they also have impaired kidney function, according to new research presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Madrid (9-13 Sept).

The results are based on a pre-specified analysis of the SELECT trial which found that adults with overweight or obesity but not diabetes taking semaglutide for more than 3 years had a 20% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or death due to cardiovascular disease, and lost an average 9.4% of their bodyweight

“This new analysis found a similar percentage reduction in cardiovascular disease with semaglutide in those with and without poor kidney function in SELECT. Because those with poor kidney function have higher background risk of cardiovascular disease the absolute benefit is greatest in this group,” explained lead author Professor Helen Colhoun from the University of Edinburgh, UK.

She added: “These findings have important clinical implications. People with impaired kidney function have increased risks of cardiovascular disease and the results show that semaglutide is safe and effective in reducing this risk substantially.”

Between October 2018 and June 2023, 17,604 adults (aged 45 or older; 72% male) from 804 sites in 41 countries with overweight or obesity (BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher) were enrolled in the SELECT trial and treated with semaglutide (2.4mg) or placebo for an average of 40 months.

They had previously experienced a heart attack, stroke and/or had peripheral artery disease, but did not have type 1 or type 2 diabetes when they joined the study.

The researchers found that in participants with impaired kidney function (eGFR <60) semaglutide was linked to a 31% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (9.7% semaglutide vs. 13.5% placebo), and a 33% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or death from any cause.

The researchers also found that in participants with normal levels of Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio(AUCR) (<30), semaglutide was linked to a 20% reduction in MACE (5.9% semaglutide vs. 7.3% placebo), as well as a 21% reduced risk of MACE or all-cause mortality.

Similarly, in participants with higher levels of Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) (≥30), indicating kidney damage or disease, semaglutide was linked to a 20% reduction in MACE compared with placebo (9.9% vs 12.3%) and a 19% lower risk of MACE or death from any cause.

Among those with impaired kidney function (eGFR <60) serious adverse events were reported in 37% of those allocated to semaglutide compared to 46% of those on placebo.

“The SELECT trial showed the benefits of semaglutide for adults with cardiovascular disease who were living with obesity or overweight but didn’t have diabetes. This new analysis finds that within this group, people with impaired kidney function had much higher rates of cardiovascular disease,” said Professor Colhoun.

Reference: Study Presented at Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (9-13 September).