Image Credit: Rimma Bondarenko / Shutterstock In a new study, tirzepatide not only outshines semaglutide in cutting diabetes risk but also offers enhanced protection against major cardiovascular events, setting a new standard in obesity treatment. In a retrospective cohort study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine , researchers compared the effects of tirzepatide and semaglutide on the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and major adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in individuals with obesity, with or without pre-existing T2D. They found that compared to semaglutide, tirzepatide was associated with a lower risk of developing T2D and more significant weight loss in individuals without T2D and a lower risk of major adverse CV events in those with pre-existing T2D.
Background Obesity is a significant global health issue affecting over 650 million adults and 340 million children and adolescents. It is a leading risk factor for T2D, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and substantial economic costs. Managing obesity involves a combination of behavioral, dietary, pharmacological, and surgical interventions, with surgery offering the most effective weight loss, though it carries risks and barriers to access.
About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. WHO Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as semaglutide are i.