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

Minerva Endocrinol (Torino). 2023 Jun 20. doi: 10.23736/S2724-6507.23.03985-4. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

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 HbA<inf>1c</inf> from baseline to the end of the study. The secondary endpoints included changes in body weight and the proportion of patients achieving HbA<inf>1c</inf> <7.0% and body weight loss >5%.

Results: After 12 months of follow-up, the reductions in HbA<inf>1c</inf> 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 HbA<inf>1c</inf> 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 HbA<inf>1c</inf> and body weight in adults aged over 70 years with T2DM, without notable adverse effects, which supports real-world use.