SynthesisEuropean journal of medical research2025

Effect of semaglutide on arrhythmic, major cardiovascular, and renal outcomes in patients with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Rui Wu, Bo Xing, Zijun Zhou, Liming Yu, Huishan Wang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of medical research, 2025. The graph read 4 numbers from its abstract, feeding 1 cell of the map: it supports the treatment in 1. Cited by 2 papers.

4numbers the graph read from it
1cell of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0.250.51 · no effect
Angina pectorissemaglutide vs controlsfavours the treatment · arrhythmia, ascvdfeeds one cell of the map
RR 0.770.61 to 0.98
Compared with the controls, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99), sinus node dysfunction (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85), and angina pectoris (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98).
Acute myocardial infarctionsemaglutide vs controlsfavours the treatment · arrhythmia, ascvdfeeds one cell of the map
RR 0.720.60 to 0.85
Compared with the controls, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99), sinus node dysfunction (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85), and angina pectoris (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98).
Sinus node dysfunctionsemaglutide vs controlsno clear difference · arrhythmia, ascvdfeeds one cell of the map
RR 0.430.19 to 1.00
Compared with the controls, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99), sinus node dysfunction (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85), and angina pectoris (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98).
Atrial fibrillation (AF)semaglutide vs controlsfavours the treatment · arrhythmia, ascvdfeeds one cell of the map
RR 0.790.63 to 0.99
Compared with the controls, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99), sinus node dysfunction (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85), and angina pectoris (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98).

clause the extractor read what became the number

2 · Its place on the map

Where it lands on the map

Rows are treatments, columns are outcomes. The coloured squares are the cells this paper feeds, coloured by the vote it casts there. Click one to jump to what this paper adds to it.

supports the treatmentfavours the comparatorno clear differenceread, but no usable result
3 · What it changes

What it adds to each cell

For every cell the paper feeds: the belief in the claim with and without this paper, and this paper's estimate drawn against every other readable study in the cell. The ringed dot is this paper.

GLP-1 receptor agonists×cardiovascular events

SupportsOpen on the map →What to test next →

13 readable studies in this cell: 7 favour the treatment, 2 find no difference, 4 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.50contested · 7 families support, 3 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
1 · no effect
NCT0399313226,774 enrolled · 2018
HR 1.010.91 to 1.11
NCT0357459717,604 enrolled · 2018
HR 0.800.72 to 0.89
NCT013949529,901 enrolled · 2011
HR 0.880.79 to 0.99
NCT039143269,651 enrolled · 2019
HR 0.860.77 to 0.96
NCT011790489,341 enrolled · 2010
HR 0.870.78 to 0.97
NCT038191533,533 enrolled · 2019
HR 0.760.66 to 0.88
NCT017204463,297 enrolled · 2013
HR 0.740.58 to 0.95
NCT026927163,183 enrolled · 2017
HR 0.790.57 to 1.11
OR 1.951.28 to 3.00
NCT05564039282 enrolled · 2022
OR 20.48.40 to 49.8

This paper's own estimate is on a different scale from the rest of the cell, so it is not drawn here.

4 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

5 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
6 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

7 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Rui WuSchool of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5352-4506
Bo XingSchool of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Zijun ZhouState Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Liming YuState Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. lmyu2012@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5953-5016
Huishan WangSchool of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110016, Liaoning, People's Republic of China. huishanw@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6523-7488

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

8 · The paper itself

Abstract

The marked sentences are the ones the graph read a number from.

backgroundSemaglutide has demonstrated potential in controlling hyperglycemia and lowering cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, its impact on arrhythmic, major CV, and renal outcomes is not well-defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess these effects in patients with overweight or obesity.

methodsWe searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported up to January 2025. We calculated overall relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these outcomes. In addition, subgroup analyses were performed based on age, treatment duration and obesity level.

resultsTen RCTs involving 22,937 patients were included. Compared with the controls, semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99), sinus node dysfunction (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.00), acute myocardial infarction (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.85), and angina pectoris (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.61-0.98). Subgroup analyses revealed greater efficacy in patients over 60 years old and those treated for more than 52 weeks, especially for acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and acute kidney injury.

conclusionSemaglutide reduces the risk of AF, sinus node dysfunction, acute myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris in patients with overweight or obesity. However, its effects on other arrhythmic, CV, and renal outcomes remain uncertain.

Indexed as

Arrhythmias, CardiacCardiovascular DiseasesGlucagon-Like PeptidesHypoglycemic AgentsObesityOverweightGlucagon-Like Peptide 1HumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSemaglutideGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like PeptidesHypoglycemic AgentsSemaglutideArrhythmicCardiovascularMeta-analysisOverweight or obesityRenalSemaglutide

Identifiers

PMID40890879
PMCPMC12403603

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.