Results of semaglutide in patients older than 70 years, a real-world study of efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the use of once-weekly semaglutide in a real population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over 70 years in two Spanish hospitals. METHODS: An observational, retrospective, and multicenter clinical study was designed. It included 60 patients with T2DM, with a mean age of 76.5 years, 63.3% women, and a mean of 15.5 years of evolution of T2DM, all managed in the outpatient clinical setting. The primary endpoint was the change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of the study. The secondary endpoints included changes in body weight and the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7.0% and body weight loss >5%. RESULTS: After 12 months of follow-up, the reductions in HbA1c were -0.61±0.9% (P<0.0001) in the total cohort. Body weight reductions were -8.2±5.3 kg (P<0.0001). Overall, 67% reached the objective of an HbA1c level of <7%, and 73% achieved a weight loss of ≥5%. CONCLUSIONS: In routine clinical practice in Spain, the use of semaglutide once a week was associated with statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in HbA1c and body weight in adults aged over 70 years with T2DM, without notable adverse effects, which supports real-world use.

Real-world use of once-weekly semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes at an outpatient clinic in Spain.

Objectives: To investigate the use of once-weekly semaglutide in a real population of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in three Spanish hospitals. Method: An observational, retrospective and multicenter clinical study was designed that included 166 participants with T2DM, distinguishing between a group naïve to GLP-1RA (n=72) and another switching from another GLP-1RA (n=94), all managed in the outpatient clinical setting. The primary endpoint was the change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of the study. The secondary endpoints included changes in body weight and the proportion of people with T2DM, achieving HbA1c <7.0% and body weight loss >5%. Results: After 24 months of follow-up, the reductions in HbA1c were -0.91 ± 0.7% (p<0.001) in the total cohort, -1.13 ± 1.38% (p<0.019) for GLP-1RA-naïve participants, and -0.74 ± 0.9% (p<0.023) for GLP-1RA-experienced participants. Body weight reductions were -12.42 ± 9.1% in GLP-1RA-naïve participants vs. -7.65 ± 9.7% in GLP-1RA-experienced participants (p<0.001). In the total cohort, 77.1% reached the objective of an HbA1c level <7%, and 12.7% reached between 7.1% and 7.5%. Additionally, 66.9% achieved a weight reduction ≥5%. Of all cohort, 90% received 1 mg of semaglutide once a week. The reported adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of semaglutide. Conclusions: In routine clinical practice in Spain, the use of semaglutide once a week was associated with statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in HbA1c and body weight in a wide range of adults with T2DM, without notable adverse effects, which supports real-world use.

Semaglutide in type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease at high risk progression-real-world clinical practice.

Background: Semaglutide [glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor-agonist (GLP-1RA)] has shown nephroprotective effects in previous cardiovascular studies. However, its efficacy and safety in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been rarely studied. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational study in patients with T2D and CKD with glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 7.5-9.5% treated with subcutaneous semaglutide for 12 months in real-world clinical practice. The main objectives were glycemic control as HbA1c <7% and weight loss >5%. Results: We studied a total of 122 patients, ages 65.50 ± 11 years, 62% men, duration of T2D 12 years, baseline HbA1c 7.57% ± 1.36% and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 50.32 ± 19.21 mL/min/1.73 m2; 54% had a urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) of 30-300 mg/g and 20% had a UACR >300 mg/g. After 12 months of follow-up, HbA1c declined -0.73% ± 1.09% (P < .001), with 57% of patients achieving values <7% and weight loss of -6.95 kg (P < .001), with 59% of patients showing a reduction of >5% of their body weight. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased -9.85 mmHg and -5.92 mmHg, respectively (P < .001). The mean UACR decreased 51% in the group with baseline macroalbuminuria (UACR >300 mg/g). The mean eGFR (by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) remained stable. The need for basal insulin decreased 20% (P < .005). Only 7% of patients on insulin had mild hypoglycemic episodes. Semaglutide was stopped in 5.7% of patients for digestive intolerance. Conclusions: In this real-world study, patients with T2D and CKD treated with subcutaneous semaglutide for 12 months significantly improved glycemic control and decreased weight. Albuminuria decreased by >50% in patients with macroalbuminuria. The administration of GLP-1RA in patients with T2D and CKD was safe and well tolerated.

Efficacy and Safety of Semaglutide for the Management of Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Heart Failure in Real-World Clinical Practice.

Background: The impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on patients with heart failure has not been fully described. Our main objective was to evaluate the safety and clinical and glycemic efficacy of once-weekly semaglutide in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Methods: In this observational, retrospective, real-world study, we enrolled outpatients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart failure who started semaglutide and were followed-up on at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: A total of 136 patients were included. From baseline to 12 months, there was a significant improvement on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score (59.0 ± 24.1 vs 79.9 ± 28.4 points, p<0.01), a reduction in the proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class III (40.4% to 16.2%, p<0.01), and a reduction in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels (969.5 ± 653.5 vs 577.4 ± 322.1 pg/mL, p<0.01). Emergency department visits due to heart failure, hospitalizations due to heart failure, and all-cause hospitalizations also declined. Additionally, significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (-1.4%) and body weight (-12.7 kilograms) were observed as well as a de-intensification of antidiabetic therapy. Moreover, semaglutide was safe and well-tolerated. Conclusion: In obese patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure, the use of once-weekly semaglutide was safe and clinically efficacious, improving health and functional status. Nevertheless, more strong evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in heart failure is required.

Insulin degludec allows for better glycaemic control with a lower risk of hypoglycaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

We conducted a retrospective observational study to demonstrate that switching to insulin degludec from other long-acting insulins reduces the risk of hypoglycaemia events and improves glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and stage 2-3B chronic kidney disease.