Oral Semaglutide Significantly Reduces Inflammation in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients

Inflammation is a critical driver in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, contributing significantly to residual cardiovascular risk (CVR). Key biomarkers like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and fibrinogen are widely recognized indicators of this inflammatory burden. While GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are known for their metabolic benefits, the specific impact of oral semaglutide on these inflammatory markers in a real-world setting among patients at high cardiovascular risk has not been extensively detailed.

After 6 months of treatment, patients receiving oral semaglutide demonstrated significant reductions in key inflammatory biomarkers. Mean hs-CRP levels decreased by a remarkable 32% from baseline (p<0.001), indicating a substantial anti-inflammatory effect. Similarly, fibrinogen levels showed a significant reduction of 18% (p<0.01) compared to baseline values, further supporting the anti-inflammatory action. The most impactful finding was the consistent and robust reduction in both hs-CRP and fibrinogen, suggesting a direct or indirect modulation of systemic inflammation by oral semaglutide. These improvements were observed alongside expected metabolic benefits, including an average 1.2% absolute reduction in HbA1c (p<0.001) and a mean 7.5% reduction in body weight (p<0.001), reinforcing the multifaceted benefits of the treatment.