Semaglutide yields positive results for patients with obesity-related heart failure and T2D

Results of a new study published in NEJM found that semaglutide led to greater reductions in weight loss and heart failure–related symptoms in patients who had obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and T2D compared with placebo.

In the trial, called STEP-HFpEF DM, researchers randomly assigned 616 patients who had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a BMI of at least 30, and T2D to receive weekly injections of semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 1 year.

With semaglutide, the mean change in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score—a primary endpoint—was 13.7 points compared with 6.4 points with placebo. The second primary endpoint, the mean percentage change in body weight, was -9.8% with semaglutide versus -3.4% with placebo.

Data for the confirmatory secondary endpoints—the change in 6-minute walk distance, a win ratio for a hierarchical composite endpoint, and the change in the C-reactive protein level—also favored semaglutide over the placebo. Additionally, semaglutide resulted in fewer serious adverse events compared with placebo.