Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide treatment for persons with type 2 diabetes: Real-world data from a diabetes out-patient clinic

Aims The once-weekly administered glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) semaglutide, has, in clinical trials, demonstrated significant reductions in glycated haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) and body weight in persons with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the real-world clinical effects of semaglutide once weekly in a hospital-based diabetes out-patient clinic. Methods This retrospective observational cohort study included persons with type 2 diabetes (n = 119) on a broad range of antidiabetic medicine: GLP-1RA naive persons (n = 37) and GLP-1RA-experienced persons (n = 82). Person characteristics at inclusion: age [median (quartiles)]: 65 (57, 72) years; body weight 99 (86, 118) kg; body mass index (BMI) 33 (29, 38) kg/m(2); HbA(1c) 61 (54, 69) mmol/mol/(7.7 (7.1, 8.5) %). Data were collected at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months of semaglutide treatment. Data were analysed using a general linear mixed model for repeated measurements. Results After 12 months, the reductions in HbA(1c) were (mean [95% confidence interval]: GLP-1RA naive: -12.8 [-17.0, -8.5] mmol/mol/ -1.2 [-1.6, -0.8]% (p < 0.01) and GLP-1RA experienced: -6.4 [-9.0, -3.8] mmol/mol/ -0.6 [-0.8, -0.4]% (p < 0.01), respectively. Body weight reductions in GLP-1RA naive: -5 [-6.9, -3.1] kg (p < 0.01) and GLP-1RA experienced: -3.2 [-4.4, -2.0] kg (p < 0.01), respectively. Seventy-five percent received 1 mg QW semaglutide. Conclusion We observed effects of semaglutide once weekly on HbA(1c) and body weight comparable with the effects observed in clinical studies with fewer persons in our cohort receiving maximum dose of semaglutide.