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Semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF: a report from a global federated research network.

ESC Heart Fail · 2026

Last updated 2026-05-28

In a study of 3,983 adults with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), researchers compared two GLP-1 drugs: semaglutide (2,719 patients) and tirzepatide (1,264 patients). After matching groups for comparison, both drugs showed similar results over 24 weeks, with no significant difference in the combined risk of death or heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.89–1.46).

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalESC Heart Fail, 2026
Citations1
Molecules semaglutide, tirzepatide
Conditions studied Obesity, Heart Failure

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Semaglutide and tirzepatide have been shown to reduce body weight, improve health status, and lower rates of clinical events in patients with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Although recent data suggest that tirzepatide leads to greater weight loss compared to semaglutide in non-HF populations, it remains uncertain whether these different drugs might result in different clinical event rates. This study aims to compare the rates of clinical outcomes for semaglutide vs tirzepatide in patients with obesity and HFpEF. METHODS: In this non-randomized, observational cohort study, adults with obesity and a concurrent diagnosis of HFpEF who initiated treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide for the first time between November 2023 and May 2025 were identified using electronic health record data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Research Network. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization, evaluated after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Among 3983 patients meeting the study criteria (semaglutide, 2719; tirzepatide, 1264), 1258 remained in each group after PSM (mean age 66 years, 41% male, 77% White, mean body mass index 42 kg/m², 63% with diabetes). Over a median follow-up of 24 weeks, semaglutide and tirzepatide were associated with a similar risk of the primary composite endpoint (HR 1.14 [95% CI, 0.89-1.46]; P = .286), and of its individual components (all-cause death: HR 1.24 [95% CI, 0.63-2.44]; P = .531; HF hospitalization: HR 1.10 [95% CI, 0.85-1.43]; P = .471), irrespective of diabetes status. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world analysis, no difference was observed between semaglutide and tirzepatide in terms of clinical outcomes among patients with obesity and HFpEF.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 41711744 ↗

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