Semaglutide, originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, has shown significant improvements in symptoms for both men and women with a common, yet previously hard-to-treat type of heart failure. Presented by Dr. Subodh Verma at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions and detailed in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the research highlights that women particularly benefit from greater weight loss alongside similar symptomatic improvements as men.
The study is part of the STEP-HFpEF program, focusing on heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) related to obesity. Semaglutide’s effects were analyzed in a group of 1,145 participants over 52 weeks, comparing it against a placebo. The findings suggest that semaglutide’s benefits extend beyond weight loss, potentially offering additional cardiovascular advantages.
Key insights from the study reveal notable sex differences in the disease’s progression and response to treatment. Women, who form the majority of HFpEF patients, often suffer more severe symptoms and physical limitations. The study underscores the importance of considering these differences in treatment approaches.
Dr. Mikhail Kosiborod, senior author and cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute, emphasized the significance of understanding these sex-specific nuances in HFpEF, particularly given the obesity and visceral fat factors driving the disease.
The study detailed how semaglutide improved heart failure-related symptoms, reduced inflammation, and enhanced exercise functionality equally in men and women, despite the observed differences in weight loss response—women saw a higher percentage reduction in body weight compared to men.
Baseline characteristics showed women generally had higher BMI, more severe symptoms, and greater levels of inflammation. Despite these challenges, the treatment effects of semaglutide, including improvements in physical limitations and systolic blood pressure, were consistently beneficial across both sexes.
In her editorial, Dr. Anuradha Lala from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine calls for further research to explore the mechanisms behind semaglutide’s benefits and to continue addressing the sex-specific differences in treatment responses. This ongoing investigation will help tailor more effective therapeutic strategies for those suffering from HFpEF.
