Characteristics of Patients Initiating Wegovy (Semaglutide) for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in a Medicare Population
Author(s)
Shivani Aggarwal, PhD, MS1, Jonathan Watts, MPH1, Na An, MS2, David Goldfarb, PhD, MPH3, Sushma Reddy Vadyala, MS4, Puneet Budhiraja, BE2;
1Landmark Science, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2Humbi LLC, Nashville, TN, USA, 3Landmark Science, Inc., New York, NY, USA, 4Humbi LLC, Nashville, CA, USA
1Landmark Science, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2Humbi LLC, Nashville, TN, USA, 3Landmark Science, Inc., New York, NY, USA, 4Humbi LLC, Nashville, CA, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Wegovy (semaglutide) was approved for chronic weight management in 2021 and, more recently, was the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA) approved for cardiovascular risk reduction in March 2024. Medicare Part D is prohibited from covering Wegovy for weight-loss but allows coverage for cardiovascular risk reduction. Here, we describe clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and trends of Wegovy initiators in a large US Medicare population.
METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) US patients initiating Wegovy from March 01, 2024 onwards were retrospectively identified using the Medicare 100% Fee-for-Service (FFS) database, which covers beneficiaries ≥65 and those with disabilities. Patients were required to have ≥6 months of continuous health plan and pharmacy coverage (Parts A, B, and D). Patient characteristics, treatment patterns and utilization trends were assessed.
RESULTS: A total of 4,223 adult patients initiated Wegovy through June 2024 with increasing numbers of patients per month. The median age was 70 years, 60.2% were female, 85.5% were White, and 3.6% were Hispanic. A minority (10.2%) of patients had Type 2 diabetes (T2D), while the majority (80.2%) were overweight/obese prior to initiating Wegovy. More than half (52.1%) had cardiovascular disease (CVD) and nearly 90% were either overweight/obese or had CVD. Patients presented with high proportion of congestive heart failure (24.0%) and peripheral vascular disease (25.2%), 10.1% had myocardial infarction or history of myocardial infarction, and 7.8% had stroke at baseline. The majority of Wegovy prescribers were primary care physicians (52.1%), followed by specialists (25.6%) and nurse practitioners (17.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the indication, the majority (~90%) of Medicare FFS patients receiving Wegovy were overweight or obese and/or had cardiovascular disease. Compared to GLP-1 RA users for T2D and obesity in Medicare FFS, Wegovy patients had higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Additional follow-up is needed to better understand characteristics and long-term outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries receiving Wegovy.
METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) US patients initiating Wegovy from March 01, 2024 onwards were retrospectively identified using the Medicare 100% Fee-for-Service (FFS) database, which covers beneficiaries ≥65 and those with disabilities. Patients were required to have ≥6 months of continuous health plan and pharmacy coverage (Parts A, B, and D). Patient characteristics, treatment patterns and utilization trends were assessed.
RESULTS: A total of 4,223 adult patients initiated Wegovy through June 2024 with increasing numbers of patients per month. The median age was 70 years, 60.2% were female, 85.5% were White, and 3.6% were Hispanic. A minority (10.2%) of patients had Type 2 diabetes (T2D), while the majority (80.2%) were overweight/obese prior to initiating Wegovy. More than half (52.1%) had cardiovascular disease (CVD) and nearly 90% were either overweight/obese or had CVD. Patients presented with high proportion of congestive heart failure (24.0%) and peripheral vascular disease (25.2%), 10.1% had myocardial infarction or history of myocardial infarction, and 7.8% had stroke at baseline. The majority of Wegovy prescribers were primary care physicians (52.1%), followed by specialists (25.6%) and nurse practitioners (17.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the indication, the majority (~90%) of Medicare FFS patients receiving Wegovy were overweight or obese and/or had cardiovascular disease. Compared to GLP-1 RA users for T2D and obesity in Medicare FFS, Wegovy patients had higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Additional follow-up is needed to better understand characteristics and long-term outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries receiving Wegovy.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EPH113
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), STA: Multiple/Other Specialized Treatments