A new systematic review and meta-analysis from Cleveland Clinic analyzed four randomized controlled trials involving over 4,100 patients with obesity-related heart failure and preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction. Researchers found that incretin-based therapies — specifically semaglutide and tirzepatide — reduced the combined risk of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death by 41%, with benefits becoming statistically significant and sustained by around 5 to 6 months of treatment. The reduction in worsening heart failure events alone was even more striking, cutting risk by 67%. These findings help clinicians set realistic timelines for patients starting these medications and reinforce their role as heart-protective agents beyond weight loss alone.
