Can weight loss drugs lower the chance of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death? Doctors at Yale School of Medicine say the study sheds light on the broader effects of the use of these drugs. The answer is yes.
A North Haven resident was prescribed the drug for that very reason.
“I have a 13-year-old daughter, and you know we wanted to be a good example to her of being healthy and active,” Margherita Leonard said. “But even with all that, before the medication, I was stuck.”
Two years ago, Leonard had serious concerns about his health after suffering from a lifelong genetic condition of high cholesterol and heart palpitations.
“At that point I felt hopeless,” Leonard said.
Then a cardiologist at Yale University prescribed Leonard weight-loss drugs, first Ozempic and then Wigovy.
“I lost a total of 80 pounds,” Leonard said.
Although it was within a two-year period, Leonard experienced other benefits.
“Now all my heart symptoms have completely disappeared,” she said. “I had never had numbers like this before. The palpitations were gone. Completely gone. Not in that sense, but for me it was unbelievable. I felt so much better.”
Dr. Harlan Krumholtz, who is not the same Yale University cardiologist who treated Leonard, said these drugs were initially used to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, but now have a broader impact. has been shown in medical research.
“I think this is a great game changer,” Krumholz said. “New research shows that these drugs targeting obesity can have a significant impact on cardiovascular risk. This is the heart drug of the moment.”
A new study found that semaglutide, which has brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death by 20% for some people. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November.
Another study by researchers at Yale University found that 6.6 million Americans qualify for these drugs because they are obese, overweight, or have cardiovascular disease.
“I think the focus now needs to be on understanding that this is not a cosmetic issue, but a health issue, especially heart health,” Krumholz said. “We also need to work hard to ensure that the people who benefit from these drugs have access to them.”
But Krumholz said lack of insurance coverage, high costs and supply issues make access impractical for most Americans at this time.
“For a long time, we didn't have a drug to treat obesity,” he said. “I will now.”
Along with a healthy lifestyle, Leonard plans to continue using medication.
“My husband even told me, 'You've probably given me another 10 years as a wife,'” Leonard said.
Her heart symptoms disappeared and she gained a new perspective on life.
“At the end of the day, the weight loss was great,” Leonard said. “But more importantly, my numbers are normal and it literally took a weight off my chest. That's something I'm so grateful for.”
NBC Connecticut asked the American Heart Association for comment on the heart health benefits of weight loss drugs. In response, the association released the following statement:
“Like many other companies, we are evaluating our decision at this time.”
