Approximately 5.5% of American adults have cardiovascular disease, and 70% of Americans are classified as overweight or obese, making this treatment an option that may affect a portion of the population. It has become. But what effect will it have if he takes Wegovy in the treatment of heart disease? And will this affect the cost of the drug? The doctor will explain.

How does Wegovy work?

Wegovy is an injectable weight loss drug that contains 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide. It is usually taken weekly. Until last week, Wegovy was approved by the FDA only as a weight loss drug. It contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, which is FDA-approved to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Wegovy (and Ozempic) belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Dr. Jamie Allan, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, explains that wegobee mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the gastrointestinal tract during meals. This causes the body to produce more insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. It also signals the brain to reduce appetite and make you feel full, Alan says, and may slow the movement of food through your intestines.

How can Wegovy reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?

A previous study funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, found that semaglutide lowered the risk of new events by 20% in people with cardiovascular disease. This double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved more than 17,600 overweight and obese adults aged 45 and older who received either Wegovy or a placebo weekly.

The researchers concluded that Wegovy was “superior” to a placebo in reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart attack.

The reasons for this are still being studied, but “it’s all connected,” says Chen-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. To tell. .

“Wegovy helps with many risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” he explains. “That includes controlling excess body weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.” Dr. Chen notes that being overweight or obese is associated with high blood pressure and is also a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. . Losing excess weight helps lower those risks by default, he says. “Carrying around a lighter weight also helps with systemic inflammation,” Dr. Chen added.

The use of drugs to treat a variety of health conditions like this is “somewhat common,” Alan says. For example, finasteride is used in low doses to treat hair loss in men, and in high doses to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate that causes problems using the toilet. Paroxetine is a drug used to treat hot flashes associated with depression and menopause.

Can this help people who are not obese or overweight?

It is important to point out that Wegovy is currently also approved for people who already have cardiovascular disease. and People who are obese or overweight. At this time, it is unclear whether the drug can help treat cardiovascular disease in people who do not already have it.

“It’s hard to say at this point,” Dr. Chen said. “It hasn’t been studied.”

If you have cardiovascular disease but are not overweight or obese, it’s best to talk to your doctor about other treatments, Dr. Chen says.

Is Wegovy covered by insurance?

Given that the FDA approval just happened, it’s difficult to say with certainty what impact it will have on health insurance coverage. But “health plans typically take their cues from FDA approvals; they don’t necessarily have to, but they usually do,” Dr. Chen speculates. As a result, he believes insurance companies will likely add coverage for cardiovascular disease to patients who use Wegovy.

Wegovy has been in short supply for several months, but is now listed as available by the FDA.

If you are interested in taking Wegovy for your cardiovascular health, it is important to discuss with your doctor how this may affect your health and your expectations for taking this drug in the future. Dr. Chen says. “This is meant to be a long-term commitment,” he says.

Colin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, and his work has appeared in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. It is published. She earned her master’s degree from American University, lives near the beach, and hopes to one day own a teacup pig and taco truck.