Study finds weight loss drug semaglutide reduced COVID-19 related deaths during the pandemic

Medical Xpress August 30, 2024
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Patients taking semaglutide injections are less likely to die of any cause, including from cardiovascular disease and infections like COVID-19, an international study led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, finds. The randomized, controlled SELECT Trial, funded by Novo Nordisk, studied the effect of once-weekly semaglutide shots versus placebo on mortality in over 17,000 participants with heart disease and overweight or obesity between October 2018 through March 2023.

Overall death rates in the group taking semaglutide were 19% lower compared to placebo. Deaths from cardiovascular disease were 15% lower, and deaths from other reasons were 23% lower. Results were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024...

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