Semaglutide in Practice: Insights from a Retrospective Case Series at a Jharkhand Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has demonstrated efficacy in improving glycemic control and reducing cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, real-world evidence from Indian populations remains limited. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of semaglutide on glycemic control, body weight, and metabolic parameters in patients with T2DM in a real-world clinical setting. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India, between February 2023 and August 2024. A total of 60 patients with T2DM (44 males and 16 females), including treatment-naïve individuals and those with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c >7%) despite ongoing therapy, were enrolled. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated at baseline and after six months of semaglutide therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using paired -tests, with a -value <0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed following semaglutide therapy. Mean HbA1c decreased from 9.21% at baseline to 7.35% after six months ( <0.001). Mean body weight decreased by 2.6 kg ( <0.001). LDL cholesterol levels declined significantly from 92.03 mg/dL to 78.93 mg/dL ( <0.05). Renal parameters, including serum creatinine and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, showed numerical improvement; however, these changes did not reach statistical significance ( >0.05). Thyroid function remained stable throughout the study period. Improvements in diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy were also observed, although these findings were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Semaglutide was effective and well tolerated in patients with T2DM in routine clinical practice. Treatment was associated with significant reductions in HbA1c, body weight, and LDL cholesterol without adverse effects on renal or thyroid function. These findings support the use of semaglutide as an effective therapeutic option for the management of T2DM in real-world settings.