Semaglutide lowers cardiovascular risk regardless of blood sugar

A recent study shows cardiovascular benefits from popular weight-loss drug does not depend on reduction in glucose levels.

A weekly dose of semaglutide was found to significantly reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people living with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease but not diabetes, regardless of blood sugar level.

The research, undertaken by UT Southwestern Medical Center and published in Diabetes Care also found the reduction in heart attacks, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes isn’t due to the drug’s effect in lowering blood sugar.

Ildiko Lingvay, Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern said: “We showed that even people with completely normal blood sugar have the same benefits in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events as people with blood sugar levels in the prediabetes range.

“This is very important information that helps us understand which patients might benefit from the cardiovascular risk-lowering effects of this medicine.”