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Open Access 09-05-2024 | Semaglutide | Brief Report

Real-World Clinical Experience of Oral Semaglutide in a Secondary Diabetes Clinic in the UK: A Retrospective Observational Study

Authors: David M. Williams, Barbara-Alex Alberts, Asem Sharaf, Giselle Sharaf, Stephen C. Bain, Atul Kalhan, Thinzar Min

Published in: Diabetes Therapy | Issue 7/2024

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Abstract

Introduction

Oral semaglutide improves cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in clinical trials, though real-world evidence is limited. We aimed to determine the real-world impact of oral semaglutide on routinely collected clinical data in our practice.

Methods

People with T2D initiated on oral semaglutide in secondary care diabetes clinics at two hospital sites in Wales (United Kingdom) were included. Data were collected on reasons for oral semaglutide initiation and changes in bodyweight, blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid profiles over follow-up at 3–6 months, and at 6–12 months. Data were collected to determine the safety of oral semaglutide.

Results

Seventy-six patients were included, with a median age 59.3 [51.4–67.6] years, and 38 (50.0%) patients were female. The most common reasons for oral semaglutide were need for weight loss and improved glycemia (69.8%), and improved glycemia alone (25.0%). Oral semaglutide associated with significantly reduced bodyweight (− 3.3 kg), body mass index (BMI) (– 0.9 kg/m2), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (− 11 mmol/mol), and total cholesterol (− 0.4 mmol/l) by 3–6 months follow-up. At 6–12 months, there was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (− 7.0 mmHg), in addition to sustained reductions in other metabolic parameters. By 12 months, 18 (23.6%) patients had discontinued the drug, largely resulting from gastrointestinal disturbance, but there were no serious events in this cohort.

Conclusions

Oral semaglutide was effective in improving cardiovascular risk factors in this real-world population living with T2D, and no serious events were identified related to oral semaglutide in this patient group.
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Metadata
Title
Real-World Clinical Experience of Oral Semaglutide in a Secondary Diabetes Clinic in the UK: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors
David M. Williams
Barbara-Alex Alberts
Asem Sharaf
Giselle Sharaf
Stephen C. Bain
Atul Kalhan
Thinzar Min
Publication date
09-05-2024
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Published in
Diabetes Therapy / Issue 7/2024
Print ISSN: 1869-6953
Electronic ISSN: 1869-6961
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13300-024-01590-x

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