13.3% Average Loss With Semaglutide in Obesity-Related HFpEF
STEP-HFpEF evaluated weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in people who had both obesity and symptomatic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. It reported weight, symptom, and exercise-function results under a defined one-year protocol—not a substitute for heart-failure care or an individual treatment plan.
Mean body-weight change was −13.3% with semaglutide and −2.6% with placebo; the KCCQ clinical summary score improved 7.8 points more with semaglutide.
The semaglutide group improved by 20.3 meters more than placebo on the 6-minute walk test. The trial's hierarchical composite endpoint also favored semaglutide, while serious adverse events occurred in 13.3% of semaglutide participants and 26.7% of placebo participants.
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Study details
- Population
- 529 adults with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and symptoms, without diabetes
- Follow-up
- 52 weeks
- Treatment comparison
- Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg compared with placebo for 52 weeks
- Study design
- Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
A study result is not a personal treatment plan
This trial enrolled a specific symptomatic HFpEF population without diabetes and used weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg. It does not replace heart-failure management, determine an individual's eligibility or tolerance, compare telehealth care, or establish medication coverage. People with heart failure should discuss treatment decisions with their treating clinician.
Compare GLP-1 programsWhat this result does not show
- The study enrolled adults with obesity-related symptomatic HFpEF and excluded diabetes, so its results should not be generalized to every person interested in weight management.
- The 13.3% figure is an average 52-week weight change in the trial and does not predict an individual's result, medication access, or side-effect profile.
- The trial did not compare telehealth providers, affordability, insurance coverage, pharmacy access, or compounded semaglutide products.
- The study was funded by Novo Nordisk; the peer-reviewed paper, protocol, and disclosures are linked at the end of this article.
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Primary peer-reviewed source
Read the full paper, methodology, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and supplementary materials before drawing conclusions beyond this plain-English summary.
Read the study at New England Journal of Medicine