Top in cardiology: GLP-1s beneficial in patients with heart failure, atrial fibrillation

Semaglutide 2.4 mg improved symptoms and physical function in patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction compared with placebo, regardless of diuretic use, according to new data from the STEP-HFpEF trials.

Researchers said it also reduced the need for diuretic use in this population vs. placebo.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) frequently receive loop diuretics, which can have adverse effects such as electrolyte abnormalities, worsening kidney function and hypotension, Subodh Verma, MD, a cardiac surgeon and Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Toronto, told Healio.

“The majority of beneficial HF-related clinical effects and safety of semaglutide were consistent across diuretic groups, with greater magnitude of improvement in HF-related symptoms and physical limitations in patients taking loop diuretics,” Verma said. “Semaglutide treatment led to a clinically meaningful and significant reduction in loop diuretic dose over the 52-week treatment period, which ... suggests disease-modifying effects in obesity-related HFpEF.”

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and were taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist had lower risk for AF recurrence, mortality and other outcomes compared with patients who were not taking a GLP-1 receptor against, according to a retrospective study.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Wegovy beneficial in HFpEF regardless of diuretic use, cuts need for diuretics

In patients with the obesity phenotype of HFpEF, semaglutide 2.4 mg improved HF-related symptoms and physical limitations vs. placebo regardless of diuretic use, according to new data from the STEP-HFpEF trials. Read more.

GLP-1 receptor agonists confer better outcomes after AF ablation in patients with diabetes

In patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent ablation for AF, those taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist had lower risk for AF recurrence, mortality and other outcomes, researchers reported at Heart Rhythm 2024. Read more.

New PAD guideline endorses multispecialty care team, structured exercise programs

A new guideline on lower-extremity peripheral artery disease encouraged managing care with a multispecialty team and having patients undergo structured exercise programs. Read more.

FDA clears AI algorithm for detection of worsening HF

Implicity announced it received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its new AI algorithm to assess risk for future HF events from data gathered from various cardiac implantable electronic devices. Read more.

Adaptable implant improves outcomes vs. drug-eluting stent at 2 years in patients with CAD

A drug-eluting coronary implant adaptable to vessel physiology with uncaging elements was linked to less target lesion failure and target vessel failure at 2 years compared with a drug-eluting stent, researchers reported. Read more.