February Heart Health Month: How GLP-1s Affect Cardiovascular Risk
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Some GLP-1 medications have been shown to reduce certain cardiovascular risks in adults with type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, in adults with obesity and established heart disease.
That is a big deal.
Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States (CDC). So when a medication used for blood sugar or weight management also shows heart benefit, people pay attention.
This is Heart Health Month. So let’s slow this down and talk about what we actually know.
First: What Are GLP-1 Medications?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. It is a hormone your body makes after you eat (Cleveland Clinic).
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medications that activate that hormone pathway (Ozempic Prescribing Information).
Examples include:
- Ozempic, which contains semaglutide (Ozempic Prescribing Information)
- Wegovy, also semaglutide, approved for chronic weight management in certain adults (Wegovy Prescribing Information)
- Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (Mounjaro Prescribing Information)
- Zepbound, also tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, approved for chronic weight management in certain adults (Zepbound Prescribing Information)
Some of these medications have also been studied specifically for cardiovascular outcomes.
That is where things get interesting.
What Do We Know About GLP-1s and Heart Risk?
1. In Type 2 Diabetes
Several large clinical trials have studied cardiovascular outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes.
For example:
- The SUSTAIN-6 trial studied semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk and found a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo (NEJM).
- The LEADER trial studied liraglutide and also found a reduction in major cardiovascular events (NEJM).
The Ozempic prescribing information includes data showing reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease (Ozempic Prescribing Information).
Major adverse cardiovascular events usually means:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular death
What this means for you: In adults with type 2 diabetes and high heart risk, certain GLP-1 medications have shown measurable cardiovascular benefit in clinical trials. While providers aren’t going to immediately start people on GLP-1s because of this promising information, it’s something to keep an eye on as more research is completed.
2. In Adults With Obesity and Established Heart Disease
More recently, the SELECT trial looked at semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease, but without diabetes.
The trial found that semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo (NEJM).
That result expanded the conversation beyond diabetes.
It suggested that weight reduction combined with GLP-1 pathway activation may influence heart risk in certain high-risk adults.
What this means for you: Heart benefits are not limited only to blood sugar effects. In specific populations, cardiovascular outcomes have been studied directly.
How Might GLP-1s Affect the Heart?
This part is still being studied, but researchers think multiple factors may contribute.
GLP-1 medications can:
- Improve blood sugar control (Ozempic Prescribing Information)
- Support weight reduction in indicated populations (Wegovy Prescribing Information)
- Lower systolic blood pressure in some patients (SELECT trial publication)
Each of those factors is independently associated with cardiovascular risk.
It is likely not one single effect.
It is a layered impact.
What this means for you: The heart benefit is probably tied to multiple metabolic improvements, not magic.
What This Does Not Mean
This is important.
GLP-1 medications are not “heart pills.”
They are not approved as a replacement for:
- Statins
- Blood pressure medications
- Lifestyle changes
And they are not approved for everyone.
Approval depends on:
- Diagnosis
- Cardiovascular history
- BMI
- Diabetes status
Always check the specific FDA indication in the prescribing information before assuming a medication is right for you (Ozempic Prescribing Information).
What this means for you: Heart benefit depends on the person and the condition being treated. Always follow the guidance of a clinician who understands your full health journey and can recommend the best treatment for your situation.
Compounded GLP-1 and Heart Claims
Compounded GLP-1 products are not FDA-approved medications in and of themselves, but are only recommended when custom treatment plans are needed (FDA).
Companies cannot market non-FDA-approved compounded GLP-1 products as “the same as” FDA-approved drugs (FDA).
The cardiovascular outcome trials discussed above were conducted on FDA-approved products.
What this means for you: If someone is making strong heart protection claims about a compounded GLP-1 product, that should be evaluated carefully. Just because you are on a GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 medication doesn’t mean you will see heart health benefits.
The Bigger Picture for 2026
GLP-1 medications have changed the way a lot of doctors think about blood sugar, weight, and even heart risk. They are part of a bigger picture now. Not a magic fix. Not a shortcut. Just one tool that may fit into a long-term plan.
If you are comparing options, it helps to zoom out a little. Is the medication FDA-approved for your condition? Has it actually been studied for heart outcomes? How does it fit with your personal health history? Those are the conversations that matter more than headlines.
Heart health is not something you hack in 30 days. Neither is weight management. Neither is diabetes care. These are long games. The goal is steady, informed decisions that support your health over time, not quick wins.
Final Takeaway
Heart disease is still one of the biggest health risks out there. Some GLP-1 medications have shown heart benefits in certain high-risk adults in large clinical trials. That is meaningful. But it does not mean these drugs are automatic heart protection for everyone.
What it does mean is this: for the right person, under the guidance of a clinician, they may be one piece of a much bigger health strategy.
If you are considering a GLP-1, try not to look at it through just one lens. Weight matters. Blood sugar matters. Heart risk matters. The goal is not a quick fix. It is building a plan you can stick with over time. That steady, informed approach is what really moves the needle.
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