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For decades, heart disease has remained one of the most persistent health challenges. Hospitals continue to fill with patients struggling to manage the condition, and treatment options have often felt limited. Now, research suggests that weight loss drugs, originally created for diabetes, may offer new hope for millions living with heart failure.
At the European Society of Cardiology’s annual conference in Madrid, scientists presented findings that could reshape treatment. Drugs called GLP-1 agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, were shown to cut the risk of hospitalization or early death in heart patients by as much as 58 percent. These drugs mimic a hormone that helps people feel full and regulate blood sugar, but their potential appears to extend well beyond weight control.
The study examined data from over 90,000 patients in the United States who had both obesity and type 2 diabetes, along with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the most common type of the condition. Results showed that semaglutide reduced the combined risk of hospital admission or premature death by 42 percent, while tirzepatide reduced the same risk by 58 percent. The findings were published in JAMA, which amplified their impact worldwide.
These results add to a growing body of evidence showing that weight loss drugs may also benefit the heart. Earlier this year, a separate trial found that people taking semaglutide had a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease, regardless of weight loss. This suggests that the protective effects may go beyond changes in body weight.
Globally, more than 60 million people live with heart failure, and for many, existing treatments do not provide enough relief. The possibility that weight loss drugs could help reduce this burden is sparking cautious optimism among cardiologists. If further studies confirm these results, what began as treatments for diabetes may soon stand as vital tools in the fight against one of the world’s leading causes of death.
