stroke survivors can significantly reduce their risk of a second stroke, heart attack or premature death from taking medications such as diabetes Ozempic or Jardiance, New preliminary research shows,
“Unfortunately, about a quarter of stroke survivors will have a second stroke,” said lead study author Dr. M. Ali Shefeh. “They are also at risk of other cardiovascular events like heart attack since many of them risk factors for stroke are also associated with other forms of heart disease,
stroke occurs When blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts, blood leaks into the brain. risk include high blood pressureincreased cholesterol, high blood sugar and obesity,
had a stroke fourth leading cause of death There were 162,600 deaths in America last year, According to preliminary data,
Sheffeh’s team reviewed the records of more than 7,000 older adults who experienced a stroke caused by a clot between 2000 and 2022. Almost all patients had type 2 diabetes.
Over three years, researchers tracked people who were prescribed either GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic Or an SGLT2 drug like Jardiance after an initial stroke to see if they had a second stroke, heart attack, or death.
GLP-1 drugs treat diabetes and promote weight loss by mimicking the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which signals the body that it is full.
SGLT2 inhibitor medications help manage blood sugar levels by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing sugar.
The researchers found that people who took neither drug had a 74% lower risk of early death and an 84% lower risk of heart attack. The risk of a second stroke was reduced by 67% in SGLT2 users.
“The study results are consistent with other research about the preventive role of these drugs against heart disease in people with obesity or heart failure,” said Sheffeh, a Mayo Clinic research scholar.
The study authors note that GLP-1 drugs have been shown low blood pressure and help prevent hardening of arteriesA major risk factor for stroke.
“GLP-1 [drugs] may actually reduce the clotting of blood platelets, and that in itself may reduce the risk of clotting and reduce the risk of stroke, said Dr. Cheryl Bushnell, professor and vice chair of research in the department of neurology at Wake Forest. Can do. University School of Medicine.
“These drugs could be really important,” Bushnell said.
The research, which has not been peer-reviewed, is to be presented this month at the American Heart Association Conference in Chicago.
The study authors acknowledge that 94% of participants identify as white adults and most live in Minnesota or Wisconsin, so it’s unclear whether these results translate to a more diverse population.
