Injections for losing weight lower the chance of having a heart attack.
Heart disease remains the primary cause of death, but the component semaglutide, used to reduce weight through injections, may also safeguard the heart, regardless of weight or weight loss.
A group of researchers from University College London revealed semaglutide's protective effects on the heart and blood vessels in individuals without diabetes who are using the drug for weight reduction. The active component reduces the chances of stroke or heart attack. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, these findings persist regardless of an individual's initial weight or weight loss during their treatment with semaglutide.
To conduct their study, these researchers utilized data from the Select study, provided by Noovo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic. They selected 17,604 participants aged 45+ with a BMI over 27 and a previous history of cardiovascular ailments. None of the participants had type 1 or type 2 diabetes and were administered a 2.4 milligram weekly dose of semaglutide or a placebo.
Semaglutide's impact was evident in the outcomes: 569 patients (6.5%) in the semaglutide group experienced a cardiovascular event (e.g., heart attack), compared to 8% of the 8801 placebo group (8,801 participants). Analyzed after 48 months, the data indicates that semaglutide offers benefits beyond mere weight reduction.
Deanfield, a prominent researcher in cardiocular outcomes and head of the Institute for Cardiocular Outcomes Research, expressed his excitement towards semaglutide's potential: "This is a game-changing drug," he remarked in an interview with The Guardian. "There's definitely something more to it that's beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Semaglutide could join statins as a groundbreaking drug that impacts cardiovascular health. The medication is currently prescribed for weight loss due to its appetite-suppressing properties. It was approved in Europe in 2018 and classified as a lifestyle drug in Germany in 2024, which means it is not covered by statutory health insurance funds."
Semaglutide, now marketed as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, acts by curbing hunger to facilitate weight loss. This component has been on the market since 2018 in Europe and was officially categorized as a lifestyle drug in Germany in 2024 by the Federal Joint Committee, devoiding health insurance coverage within the country.
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This study suggests that semaglutide, a component used for weight loss through injections, can reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack, even in individuals who are overweight or obese and have not lost significant weight during treatment. The protective effects of semaglutide on heart health, as revealed in this research, could potentially make it a game-changer in cardiovascular medicine. This medication, which is currently used for weight loss due to its appetite-suppressing properties, could also have positive impacts on overall health, including reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, thereby contributing to better heart health.
Source: www.ntv.de
