Wegovy and Heart Disease

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on July 22, 2024
5 min read

When you have overweight or obesity, the odds of having some form of heart disease are dramatic. One study has concluded that having overweight raises your coronary heart disease risk by as much as 26% compared to someone who is at a healthy weight, and obesity by as much as 28%. Recently, researchers have found that Wegovy, a form of the weight loss drug semaglutide, can offer some big protections for your heart health. 

Wegovy (semaglutide) is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs control your blood sugar by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). 

This hormone, found naturally in your body, prompts your pancreas to make insulin while cutting the hunger hormone ghrelin. You feel less hungry, and your stomach empties less often.  This helps to lower your blood sugar and can help you lose weight as well. 

The FDA first approved Wegovy as a diabetes drug, but researchers have since found that it has other health benefits, including for your heart.

Wegovy's approval for heart disease

The FDA originally approved Wegovy in June 2021 as an aid in weight loss for adults with overweight or obesity and at least one other weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. 

In March, 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy as a treatment to help ward off heart disease. It received priority review from the FDA, meaning the agency acted on it within 6 months instead of the standard 10. The drug is now recommended for adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. This group has a higher chance of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death.

The FDA approved Wegovy for heart problems after an extensive study to test its safety and how well it works. The study began in 2018, and more than 17,000 people across 41 countries took part, receiving Wegovy injections or a placebo. Doctors also treated both groups for health conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and provided nutrition and exercise counseling. 

Results of the study show that Wegovy greatly lowers the chance of heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death. People in the study who took Wegovy instead of the placebo had fewer heart problems. It’s the first weight loss drug also approved for heart disease.

Researchers have found several heart-healthy benefits of taking Wegovy:

Weight loss and heart disease

Around 70% of American adults have overweight or obesity. It’s a health problem that raises your odds of heart attack, stroke, and early death. Studies show that Wegovy, along with changes to your diet and exercise habits, can help you lose weight and keep it off long-term.

People who took Wegovy as part of the heart disease study lost more weight than those who took a placebo—on average, more than 13% of their body weight compared to around 3%.

Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke

In one study, researchers found that Wegovy cuts your chance of heart attack and stroke by 20% compared to a placebo. Everyone who took part in the study had a history of heart disease.

A separate trial of the drug in people with diabetes showed similar results, lowering the odds of heart attack and stroke by 26%.  

Lower cholesterol and blood pressure

There’s often a link between heart disease and other health conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. With Wegovy, doctors can potentially treat all of these illnesses with one drug. Researchers say weight loss that happens with the medication cuts your chances of heart disease and lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Wegovy is for adults and children aged 12 and older. Your doctor may prescribe it for heart disease if you have:

  • Heart disease
  • Obesity or overweight
  • A weight-related health condition

Will insurance cover Wegovy for heart disease?

Talk to your health insurance provider about whether they cover Wegovy for heart disease. Health care experts expect more providers to do so in the future since heart disease is a common condition and expensive to cover. 

Taking Wegovy may cause side effects that can affect your health. The most common side effects include:

  • Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
  • Loose, watery stools (diarrhea)
  • Throwing up
  • Trouble having a bowel movement (constipation)
  • Stomach pain
  • Headache
  • Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
  • Indigestion (dyspepsia)
  • Dizziness
  • A swollen abdomen (abdominal distension)
  • Burping and gas
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people with diabetes
  • Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

There’s also a chance you could have more serious side effects, such as:

  • An inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
  • Gallbladder problems, including gallstones
  • A loss of kidney function (acute kidney injury)
  • Retina damage (diabetic retinopathy)
  • An allergic reaction

Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Your doctor should also carefully watch you for signs of depression or suicidal behaviors or thoughts.

You should avoid taking Wegovy for heart disease if you or anyone in your family has had medullary thyroid cancer. People with a rare condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should also avoid this medication. And don’t take Wegovy if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or its ingredients.

Wegovy (semaglutide) is an FDA-approved injectable drug, first prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management, but now also used to lessen chances of heart disease. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone to lower blood sugar and hunger. 

In March, 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy for adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight based on an extensive scientific study of the drug. The study showed that Wegovy significantly lowers the odds of a heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death. The drug also helps with weight loss and lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue, with more serious conditions like pancreatitis and acute kidney injury.

Is Wegovy approved for heart patients?

Yes. Your doctor may prescribe Wegovy if you currently have heart (cardiovascular) disease.

Can you take semaglutide if you have heart disease?

Semaglutide is the generic name of the brand-name drug Wegovy. Doctors prescribe it to adults with heart disease.

Are cardiologists prescribing Wegovy?

A cardiologist is a doctor who treats problems with the heart and blood vessels. Part of their job involves prescribing medicines to treat different conditions. If you have heart disease, they may prescribe Wegovy.

Will Medicare cover Wegovy for heart disease?

If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part D, your plan may cover Wegovy. Your doctor must prescribe it to treat both heart disease and weight. This also applies to state Medicaid plans.