A recent study has shown that the weight-loss drug Ozempic, along with other medications in its class, may significantly lower the risk of heart attacks and even death among stroke survivors.
Drugs like Ozempic, classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists, and similar medications called SGLT2 inhibitors (such as Jardiance and Farxiga), have been found to offer protective benefits for people who have experienced a stroke.
According to the study, stroke patients who took either a GLP-1 or SGLT2 drug had a 74% lower chance of dying and an 84% lower risk of having a heart attack within three years of their stroke. Additionally, those on SGLT2 drugs showed a 67% reduced risk of suffering another stroke.
Stroke survivors are particularly vulnerable to further heart-related problems, as many factors that cause strokes, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and obesity, are also linked to heart disease.
Dr. Ali Sheffeh, the study’s lead researcher from the Mayo Clinic, emphasized the importance of managing these health risks after a stroke to help prevent further complications and improve patients’ quality of life.
The research team examined medical records of over 7,000 adults in Minnesota and Wisconsin who had suffered strokes caused by blood clots between 2000 and 2022. They focused on patients who took either GLP-1 or SGLT2 medications to see if these drugs provided any additional health benefits.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are originally used for diabetes management and weight loss.
They work by mimicking a natural hormone that controls blood sugar, reduces appetite, and slows down digestion, which can also lower blood pressure and reduce plaque in arteries—both significant risk factors for stroke and heart disease.
SGLT2 inhibitors, on the other hand, help manage diabetes by enabling the kidneys to filter excess sugar from the blood, which is then passed out of the body in urine. These drugs are known for their heart-protective qualities, especially among those with diabetes or obesity.
The study found striking differences in health outcomes between those who took these medications and those who did not.
Stroke survivors taking either drug had a death rate of under 12%, compared to 54% among patients who did not use either medication.
Similarly, only 1.5% of patients on these medications experienced a heart attack, compared to 6% of those not taking them.
Dr. Cheryl Bushnell, an American Heart Association stroke expert, noted that these findings align with existing knowledge about the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 and SGLT2 drugs.
Research over recent years has shown that both types of medications help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death, especially for individuals with obesity or heart failure.
GLP-1 drugs offer a unique benefit beyond weight loss: they also lower blood pressure and help prevent artery blockages.
Bushnell explained that these drugs reduce the clumping of blood platelets, which decreases the risk of blood clots, a major cause of both heart attacks and strokes.
While the results are promising, Bushnell pointed out that more research is needed. Conducting a clinical trial would provide more concrete evidence on whether these drugs could become a standard part of post-stroke treatment to prevent repeat strokes.
For now, the study’s findings offer a glimpse of the potential for these medications to help manage health risks in stroke survivors, but further studies are necessary to confirm these benefits.
These findings were shared at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in Chicago and mark an exciting potential advancement in stroke recovery care.
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