Lancet

ACC 2025: Semaglutide boosts walking ability in patients with T2DM and peripheral artery disease

April 3, 2025

Semaglutide enhanced walking capacity and quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and T2DM, according to results presented at American College of Cardiology (ACC).25. This finding provides a new approach to managing functional impairment in this population, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures and enhancing overall patient outcomes.

Study details: STRIDE (NCT04560998) was a phase 3b, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 792 participants with symptomatic PAD and T2DM. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either SC semaglutide (1.0 mg weekly) or placebo for 52 weeks. Primary endpoint was ratio to baseline of maximum walking distance at week 52, measured on a graded treadmill.

Results: Semaglutide significantly increased maximum walking distance compared with placebo, with an estimated treatment ratio of 1.13 (95% CI, 1.06-1.21; p = 0.0004). This corresponds to a median improvement of 26.4 meters over placebo. Additionally, secondary outcomes showed enhancements in vascular quality of life and a low incidence of serious adverse events.

Source:

Bonaca MP, et al; STRIDE Trial Investigators. (2025, March 28). Lancet. Semaglutide and walking capacity in people with symptomatic peripheral artery disease and type 2 diabetes (STRIDE): a phase 3b, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40169145/