FLOW: Semgalutide Provides Consistent CV Benefit Across Spectrum of Kidney Disease

Use of semaglutide 1.0 mg (Ozempic) offers benefits on cardiovascular outcomes, regardless of baseline chronic kidney disease severity, according to an analysis of the FLOW trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2024.

Presented by Kenneth Mahaffey, MD, professor of Medicine at Stanford University, less than 4 months after the FLOW trial headlined the European Renal Association Congress, the latest analysis of FLOW provides evidence of the effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist using different definitions of kidney disease severity.

The data presented from the FLOW study at the ESC Congress 2024 assessed the impact of semaglutide compared to placebo on cardiovascular outcomes—specifically cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke among patient groups stratified by baseline chronic kidney disease severity.

In the overall FLOW population, semaglutide use was associated with an 18% relative risk reduction in the primary outcome of the analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.98). This effect was consistent across different levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR).

Further analysis revealed patients with an eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² had the most pronounced benefit (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.94). When assessing absolute risk difference at week 156, investigators observed a range of -0.02 to -0.05 across subgroups. However, during his presentation, Mahaffey pointed out some subgroups, such as those with UACR <300 mg/g, the results failed to achieve statistical significance.

For more, check out our interview with Mahaffey.

Relevant disclosures for Mahaffey include Novo Nordisk, Otsuka, Bayer, CSL Behring, Johnson & Johnson, Idorsia, and others.

References:

Mahaffey K. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes by baseline chronic kidney disease status and albuminuria in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: results from the FLOW trial. Presented at: European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024. August 30 - September 2, 2024. London, UK.