GLP-1 Evidence

Not medical advice. A record of published research and our assessments of it. The limits

Effects of semaglutide on subclinical cardiovascular health in people with HIV

Design
Randomized trial · Mixed outcome
Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
Population unclear[Auto] Population characteristics not extractable from abstract (mean age 53). Needs manual review.
Could weight loss explain it?
Unknown[Auto] Not addressed in abstract.
Study tier
Study tier 3[Auto] Small or short randomized trial (auto-provisional).
Assessment
Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 20, 2026

Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.

[Auto, unreviewed; quoted from abstract conclusions] Semaglutide did not improve subclinical vascular markers over 32 weeks but significantly improved overall cardiometabolic health and cardiovascular disease risk. Longer and larger studies of GLP-1 RAs are indicated in HIV to further assess their effects on long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Semaglutide
Comparator
placebo
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
32 weeks
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Mean age
53
Diabetes status
diabetes mentioned
Cvd status
cardiovascular disease present in population (see abstract)

Study quality details

Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Sample size
not extracted
Randomization
yes
Blinding
double-blind
Comparator
placebo
Follow up duration
32 weeks
Outcome type
mixed
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
UNKNOWN
Statistical precision
not extracted
Risk of bias
not assessed (auto)
Funding conflicts
unclear
Peer review status
yes
02Funding

Funding and conflicts

Funding
not reported in abstract
Industry funded
Unclear
Manufacturer
None identified
Sponsor role
not reported in abstract
Author conflicts
not available in metadata
Independent replication
unknown

Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.

04Source

The source, as retrieved

Abstract

[DESIGN AND OBJECTIVE] Lipohypertrophy, characterized by central adipose tissue accumulation, is common in people with HIV (PWH) and contributes to cardiometabolic risk. In a recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial, semaglutide significantly improved weight, total fat, visceral adiposity, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipids over 32 weeks in PWH with lipohypertrophy. This prespecified secondary analysis evaluated semaglutide's effects on subclinical cardiovascular health. [METHODS] Virologically suppressed adults with HIV without known diabetes, receiving stable antiretroviral therapy, with body mass index >25 kg/m2 and increased waist circumference/waist-to-hip ratio were enrolled. Participants were randomized 1 : 1 to semaglutide or placebo for 32 weeks. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and endothelial peripheral arterial tonometry (endoPAT) assessed arterial stiffness and endothelial function, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score assessed calcified coronary atherosclerosis. Indirect calorimetry measured resting energy expenditure (REE) and oxygen consumption (VO2). 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores were calculated. Analyses followed intention-to-treat principles using sex-adjusted multiplicative regression. [RESULTS] One hundred eight participants (n = 54 semaglutide) were enrolled (median age 53 years; 60% male; 65% non-White; 35% smokers). Semaglutide had no significant effect on PWV, CAC score, reactive hyperemia index, augmentation index, or REE. VO2 showed a downward trend (β -43 ml/min; P = 0.087). At week 32, significant reductions were observed in 10-year ASCVD risk (-32.6%; P = 0.026) and hsCRP (-23.4%; P = 0.02) in the semaglutide group relative to placebo. [CONCLUSION] Semaglutide did not improve subclinical vascular markers over 32 weeks but significantly improved overall cardiometabolic health and cardiovascular disease risk. Longer and larger studies of GLP-1 RAs are indicated in HIV to further assess their effects on long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes. [TRIAL REGISTRATION] NCT04019197.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 20, 202642752515
first ingestion