The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: **Semaglutide’s Heart Benefits Go Beyond Weight Loss** A new study highlights that **semaglutide**, the active ingredient in popular medications like Wegovy and Ozempic, lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events—including heart attack and stroke—even if patients do not lose a significant amount of weight while taking the drug[3]. **Major Cardiac Event Risk Reduction** Researchers found that **people taking semaglutide were 14% less likely to experience cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke** compared to those on placebo, after about four years of treatment[1]. This benefit was observed in both oral and injectable forms of the medication, making the potential impact wider for those hesitant to use injections[1]. **The SOUL Study and Consistent Results** The **SOUL trial** enrolled 9,650 patients aged 50 and older who had Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or chronic kidney disease[1]. The findings showed consistent cardiovascular benefits across age, sex, and various health backgrounds[1]. **Weight Loss Is Not the Main Factor** A key finding from mediation analysis revealed that **approximately 80% of the reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events with semaglutide is due to mechanisms other than weight loss**[3]. This underlines that the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 drugs are largely independent of the amount of weight an individual loses on therapy[3]. **Oral vs. Injectable Formulations** Both **oral and injectable formulations offer similar cardiovascular advantages**[1]. Developing an oral version was technically challenging, but offers reassurance for those resistant to injections. Patients need to take the tablet on an empty stomach, but the study showed that most were able to adhere to these instructions and experience benefits[1]. **Primary Outcomes and Side Effects** The **primary driver of cardiovascular improvement was a 26% reduction in non-fatal heart attacks** for those taking oral semaglutide[1]. Rates of non-fatal stroke were 12% lower, and cardiovascular death was 7% lower in the treatment group, although changes in kidney outcomes were not significant[1]. The most common side effects were mild gastrointestinal symptoms, similar to those seen with injectables[1]. **Compatibility With Other Diabetes Medications** In the SOUL trial, about half of participants were also taking SGLT-2 inhibitors—a different class of diabetes drugs with proven heart benefits. **No significant difference in outcomes was found between those using both classes versus just one**, indicating that the benefits are complementary and the two types of drugs can be safely used together[1]. **Implications for Clinical Practice** This research empowers clinicians and patients with the knowledge that **semaglutide can reduce heart risks regardless of weight change**, expanding the options for those seeking cardiovascular protection alongside diabetes treatment[1][3]. **References** Information in this article is based on data presented by the American College of Cardiology and published analyses in *Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism*. Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9