Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes

Researchers randomly gave weekly semaglutide injections or a dummy injection to 17,604 adults aged 45 and older with overweight or obesity and existing heart disease, but no diabetes. They followed people for about 3 years. Major cardiovascular events, meaning heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease, happened in 6.5% of the semaglutide group compared with 8.0% of the dummy-injection group. That was about 15 fewer events per 1,000 people, although stomach-related side effects caused more people to stop semaglutide.

What this means for you: This is strong evidence that prescribed semaglutide can lower heart attack and stroke risk in adults with overweight or obesity who already have heart disease. It does not show the same benefit for healthy people or prove that semaglutide extends life generally, and cost and side effects still matter.