Semaglutide cardiovascular outcomes: 5-year follow-up
Long-term data from a major trial shows sustained reductions in major adverse cardiac events.
by Editorial team
The trial
A 5-year extension of the SELECT trial followed over 17,000 adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
Participants received either weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo, with cardiovascular events as the primary endpoint.
Results
The semaglutide arm showed a 20% relative reduction in non-fatal MI, stroke, and CV death versus placebo, sustained through year five.
Weight loss plateaued near month 18 but cardiovascular benefit continued to widen, suggesting effects beyond weight alone.
What it does not mean
These findings do not apply to people without established CV disease, and they do not justify off-label use without medical supervision.
Side effects — predominantly gastrointestinal — were consistent with earlier reports.