Semaglutide Reduces Medical Costs, Healthcare Resource Utilization in Heart Failure

Use of semaglutide 2.4 mg incurs lower medical costs and inpatient resource utilization among patients with overweight or obesity and heart failure (HF) compared with those who did not receive the GLP-1 receptor agonist, according to findings from a recent study.1

The real-world analysis of Komodo Healthcare Map data found use of semaglutide was associated with 28% lower all-cause medical costs, 55% lower inpatient hospitalization costs , and 42% lower inpatient visit rate, a key driver of the lower costs observed with semaglutide treatment.1

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 6.7 million adults ≥ 20 years of age have heart failure, with obesity serving as a prominent risk factor. Since its initial approval for overweight and obesity in 2021, semaglutide has become a cornerstone of weight management for many, posing important implications for its benefits on cardiovascular and heart failure outcomes.2,3

“The clinical benefits of semaglutide 2.4 mg in HF are well-established; However, assessing its impact on healthcare costs and resource utilization is needed,” Wojciech Michalak, MSc, associate director of data science at Novo Nordisk, and colleagues wrote.1

To compare all-cause medical costs and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with overweight or obesity and HF treated with semaglutide 2.4 mg versus those not treated, investigators conducted retrospective, noninterventional, cohort study using data from Komodo Healthcare Map for patients with ≥1 inpatient or outpatient claim for HF during the baseline period with overweight or obesity.1

The patient identification period coincided with the US approval of semaglutide 2.4 mg and ran from June 2021 to September 2023. Of note, all patients were required to have ≥ 12 months of continuous enrollment prior to and following the index date; thus, the overall study period was from June 2020 to September 2024.1

A total of 1,204,632 patients with overweight or obesity and HF fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 408 of whom received semaglutide 2.4 mg and 1,204,224 of whom did not receive semaglutide 2.4 mg. Semaglutide-untreated controls were randomly selected and propensity score matched to treated patients based on baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, medical costs, and HCRU.1

In the propensity matched cohort, 408 patients with overweight or obesity and HF receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg were matched to 1632 patients who did not receive semaglutide 2.4 mg.1

In the year following initiation of semaglutide 2.4 mg, investigators noted mean per patient per year (PPPY) total medical costs were significantly lower for semaglutide 2.4 mg-treated patients compared with those who did not receive semaglutide 2.4 mg ($19,094 vs $27,638) with a 28% difference in total medical costs (adjusted total cost ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60–0.84; P <.001).1

Further analysis revealed mean PPPY inpatient costs with semaglutide 2.4 mg were lower for semaglutide 2.4 mg-treated patients compared with controls ($4,377 vs $10,681), a 55% difference in inpatient costs (adjusted inpatient cost ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26–0.64; P <.001). Additionally, the inpatient visit rate PPPY was 42% lower in treated patients versus controls (0.15 vs 0.26; adjusted inpatient visit rate ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38–0.78; P <.001).1

While the mean outpatient visit rate was higher in the semaglutide 2.4 mg-treated group (36.6 vs. 31.6; P = 0.027), outpatient costs were slightly lower ($13,366 vs $15,654; adjusted outpatient cost ratio, 0.88; 95% CI 0.74–1.03; P = .11) with semaglutide 2.4 mg, indicating more frequent outpatient services, but at a lower intensity level. Investigators did not observe any differences in emergency department costs or visit rates between the groups.1

“Results from this real-world analysis of a large, US administrative claims database augment the efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials by showing significantly lower inpatient hospitalization rates and all-cause total medical and inpatient hospitalization costs among semaglutide 2.4 mg-treated patients compared with patients not receiving semaglutide 2.4 mg,” investigators concluded.1 “In patients with overweight or obesity and HF treatment with semaglutide 2.4 mg can improve outcomes while reducing costs and HCRU, which may help to stem the growing burden of HF to the US.”

References

1. Michalak W, Zhao Z, Faurby M, et al. Impact of Semaglutide 2.4 mg on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Medical Costs in Patients With Heart Failure in the United States (SHINE-HF). Clin Ther. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2025.07.018

2. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Heart Failure. May 15, 2024. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/about/heart-failure.html

3. Campbell P. Semaglutide (Wegovy) Approved for Chronic Weight Management in Patients with Obesity or Overweight. HCPLive. June 4, 2021. Accessed August 19, 2025. https://www.hcplive.com/view/semaglutide-approved-for-chronic-weight-management-in-patients-with-obesity-or-overweight