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Hemoglobin A1c Reduction With the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Semaglutide Is Independent of Baseline eGFR: <i>post hoc</i> Analysis of the SUSTAIN and PIONEER Programs.

Kidney Int Rep · 2022

Last updated 2026-09-04

In a study of 8,859 people with type 2 diabetes, the GLP-1 drug semaglutide reduced blood sugar control (measured by HbA1c) by 0.6% to 1.6% across different trials, with similar effectiveness regardless of kidney function. Weight loss was also greater with semaglutide compared to other treatments, with slightly more weight loss in people with lower kidney function. No new safety issues were found with semaglutide.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalKidney Int Rep, 2022
Citations17
Relative citation ratio1.23
NIH percentile58
Molecules semaglutide

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are effective treatments for reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), including those with reduced kidney function. METHODS: This analysis assessed the HbA1c-lowering efficacy of semaglutide, a GLP-1RA, in participants with a range of kidney functions in the SUSTAIN 4-6 and 10 (subcutaneous semaglutide) and PIONEER 5 and 6 (oral semaglutide) clinical trials. Trial-level changes from baseline to end of treatment (EOT) in HbA1c and body weight (BW) were assessed in participants with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >15 ml/min per 1.73 m by subgroups categorized according to baseline eGFR. Adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: The analysis included 8859 participants. The mean comparator-adjusted reduction in HbA1c from baseline to EOT with semaglutide ranged from 0.6% to 1.6% points across trials, with similar reductions across the eGFR subgroups (interaction -value ≥ 0.33 for difference between eGFR subgroups within each trial). Greater weight loss from baseline to EOT with semaglutide versus comparator was observed across almost all baseline eGFR subgroups, with nominally greater weight loss with lower versus higher eGFR in SUSTAIN 6 and 10 and PIONEER 5 and 6 (interaction  < 0.05). No new safety concerns with semaglutide were identified. CONCLUSION: The HbA1c-lowering effect of semaglutide in participants with T2D was comparable irrespective of eGFR, which ranged upwards from eGFR >15 ml/min per 1.73 m.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 36531884 ↗

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