INTRODUCTION: Oral Semaglutide (Sema-o) is the first oral glucagon like peptide-1 receptor analogue (GLP-1RA) commercially available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Sema-o in patients with T2D when added to the existing therapy.
METHODS: This retrospective real-world study enrolled adult patients with diabetes taking Sema-o, with at least one follow-up (from February 2022 till October 2023). A proforma recorded baseline and follow-up date, medications, body composition, laboratory and clinical parameters. Data is presented as median (interquartile range) and was analysed using SPSS.
RESULTS: A total of 351 patients followed up once, while 56 patients had 4 follow-up visits. Baseline parameters were as follows: age 53 years (43-61), duration of diabetes 10 years (5-16), weight 91 kg (79-103), body mass index (BMI) 32.7 kg/m(29.3-36.6) and HbA1c 7.9% (6.9-9). The addition of Sema-o in the existing therapy for diabetes resulted in a significant reduction in HbA1c {follow-up: 10.5%, 20.9%, 31.1% and 41.1% (all,< 0.001)} and % weight reduction {follow-up: 12%, 23.3%, 34.1% and 44.3% (all,< 0.001)} from baseline. Reductions in BMI, glucose (fasting/post-prandial), lipids, liver enzymes and body composition parameters were significant. Gastro-intestinal side-effects (299 events in 52.4% of patients) were frequent. A total of 34/9.7% patients discontinued Sema-o.
CONCLUSION: Intensification of existing therapy with Sema-o in obese patients with moderately uncontrolled diabetes proved to be an effective and relatively safe strategy. Achieving normoglycemia and reductions in weight, lipids and body fat/visceral fat with Sema-o may confer a much needed cardiometabolic benefit in these patients.