24% Lower Major Kidney-Disease Event Risk With Semaglutide
FLOW was a peer-reviewed kidney-outcomes trial in adults who had both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Its headline result concerns a prespecified composite kidney outcome under a specific clinical protocol—not a general prediction for every person seeking GLP-1 care.
The risk of a major kidney-disease event was 24% lower with semaglutide than with placebo (hazard ratio, 0.76).
The primary composite included kidney failure, a sustained 50% or greater eGFR reduction, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes. The trial also reported a less-steep annual eGFR decline, an 18% lower risk of major cardiovascular events, and a 20% lower risk of death from any cause with semaglutide in its confirmatory secondary outcomes.
Turn the study result into a better program comparison
If this kidney-outcomes result prompts you to explore GLP-1 care, compare the practical details the study did not test: available plans, clinician follow-up, brand-name medication access, public price terms, and eligibility requirements. These reviewed brands have category-matched GLP-1 offers; none participated in or is endorsed by this study.
From $49 – $129/mo · Editorial score 4.7/5
Featured value terms: semaglutide $49/mo or tirzepatide $89/mo with 12-month prepayment; $99/$129 month to month.
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Study details
- Population
- 3,533 adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease meeting the trial's eGFR and albuminuria criteria
- Follow-up
- Median follow-up of 3.4 years
- Treatment comparison
- Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1.0 mg compared with placebo alongside usual kidney and diabetes care
- Study design
- Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled outcomes trial
A study result is not a personal treatment plan
The study tested weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease under specialist trial oversight. It does not replace nephrology or diabetes care, determine whether a prescription is appropriate, compare online providers, or establish coverage and availability for an individual. Those questions require a licensed clinician and current plan terms.
Compare GLP-1 programsWhat this result does not show
- The findings apply to adults with both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who met the trial's kidney-function and albuminuria criteria.
- The 24% figure is a relative reduction in a composite kidney-disease endpoint, not a guarantee of individual benefit or a measure of weight loss.
- The trial evaluated semaglutide 1.0 mg with usual care, not telehealth providers, compounded products, affordability, pharmacy access, or program quality.
- The trial was funded by Novo Nordisk; the peer-reviewed paper, protocol, and disclosures are linked at the end of this article.
Related Studies
Explore other peer-reviewed results in Evidence Watch before comparing programs or discussing options with a clinician.
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