Pooled Analysis: Semaglutide improves symptoms and reduces weight in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

This pooled analysis of the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM randomized trials assessed the efficacy of semaglutide in 1,145 participants with obesity-related heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, across 129 research sites globally. Participants, who had a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 and varied cardiovascular conditions, were administered 2.4 mg of semaglutide weekly for 52 weeks. Semaglutide significantly improved heart failure-related symptoms (7.5 points increase in KCCQ-CSS), reduced body weight by 8.4%, and increased the 6-min walk distance by 17.1 meters, compared to placebo. The treatment also demonstrated safety, with fewer serious adverse events than the placebo group. These benefits were consistent across various subgroups, confirming semaglutide’s potential as a treatment in this patient population.

Reference (link to abstract – $ for full-text):

Reference: Prof Javed Butler et al. (2024). Semaglutide versus placebo in people with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a pooled analysis of the STEP-HFpEF and STEP-HFpEF DM randomised trials. The Lancet, (Volume and Issue Pending), Pages. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00469-0.