Semaglutide's Effect on Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic

A small absolute reduction in noncardiovascular-related mortality among semaglutide recipients was attributable partly to fewer COVID-19 deaths.

The industry-sponsored SELECT trial was a randomized comparison of semaglutide and placebo in 17,600 patients with known cardiovascular (CV) disease and overweight, but without diabetes (NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 15 2023 and N Engl J Med 2023; 389:222). During 40 months of treatment, incidence of the primary endpoint (i.e., myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV-related death) was significantly lower in the semaglutide group (6.5% vs. 8.0%). Because much of this trial was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers now have done a secondary analysis, focusing particularly on mortality and on COVID-19–related outcomes.

Key findings were as follows:

CV-related mortality was 2.5% with semaglutide and 3.0% with placebo (P=0.07).
Non-CV–related…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Semaglutide's Effect on Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Topics

Reviewing Author