HFpEF trial - Obesity medication proves effective in treating patients with heart failure
Presented by the lead author Mikhail Kosiborod, MD; Vice President, Research; Co-Director, Haverty Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence; Executive Director, Cardiometabolic Center Alliance; Ben McAllister, MD, Endowed Chair; and Professor of Medicine, University of Missouri–Kansas City
Dr. Kosiborod presented the main results of STEP-HFpEF trial during the opening late breaking clinical trial session at the European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC Congress)—the world’s largest cardiology conference—on Friday, August 25 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The results have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine at the time of the presentation.
“To our knowledge, this is the first trial of its kind to specifically target obesity as a treatment strategy in patients with heart failure,” Dr. Kosiborod said. “These findings will likely have a significant impact on clinical practice, especially since there are so few effective therapies for this patient group. Furthermore, the results of STEP-HFpEF should change the nature of the conversation about the role of obesity in heart failure from a coexisting condition to a root cause and a target for intervention.”
STEP-HFpEF was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 96 sites in 13 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The trial recruited 529 patients with symptomatic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity, with the goal of evaluating the effects of semaglutide, a potent GLP1 receptor agonist, versus placebo on heart failure-related outcomes and weight loss. Results showed that treatment with semaglutide led to large improvements in heart failure-related symptoms and physical function, reduced inflammation and resulted in greater weight loss compared with placebo.
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The Guardian: Weight-loss drug can reverse heart failure symptoms, study finds
Medpage Today: Wegovy Reduces Heavy Symptom Burden of Obesity-Related Heart Failure
WebMD: Weight Loss Drug Wegovy Also Works Against Heart Failure: Study
Healio: Semaglutide drives ‘substantial’ improvements in heart failure symptoms: STEP-HFpEF
Medscape: Wegovy Scores HFpEF Benefits in People With Obesity
STAT News: Weight Loss Drug Wegovy Improves Function in People with Common Type of Heart Failure
The Times: Weight-loss injections like Ozempic could be key to curing heart failure
Independent: Weight loss jabs improve heart failure symptoms in obese patients, says study
tctMD: STEP-HFpEF: Semaglutide Cuts Weight and Symptoms, Boosts Function
HCPLive: Semaglutide 2.4 mg Shows Benefit as Treatment for Heart Failure with Obesity
MedicineNet: Wegovy May Be Valuable New Option for Heart Failure Patients
New York Post: Wegovy, Ozempic can help with heart failure symptoms, study finds
PACE-CME: GLP-1RA improves HF symptoms and physical function in patients with HFpEF and obesity
News Medical Life Science: Semaglutide could be a game-changer for patients with HFpEF and obesity
MPR-Medical Professionals Reference: Semaglutide Beneficial for Patients With HFpEF and Obesity
KSHB: Kansas City Doctors are at Center of Breakthrough Research for Heart Failure Patients
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