“We were surprised by the extent of the quality-of-life benefits seen with semaglutide, because they were not only clinically meaningful, but consistently experienced across multiple aspects of daily life, including physical functioning and overall well-being,” says the lead study author, Johannes Mann, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and the department director of nephrology, hypertension, and rheumatology at Munich General Hospitals in Germany.
More Healthy Days on Semaglutide
For the new study, researchers randomly assigned more than 3,500 adults with both chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes to receive either once-weekly semaglutide or a placebo (sham drug).
Over the course of two years, self-rated general health scores improved for those on semaglutide but worsened with placebo. Those taking the meds noted specific gains when it came to mobility, self-care, and how easily they could perform their usual activities. They also reported less pain and discomfort.
These health improvements added up to the equivalent of 8 extra days of full health per year, the researchers concluded.
This calculation was based on “health utility scores,” a measure that allows scientists to quantify a patient’s health. These scores remained stable in the semaglutide group, but worsened in the placebo group.
Days of full health can be rare for someone with type 2 diabetes, so 8 more is significant, according to Dr. Mann.
“The consistency of the difference between semaglutide and placebo on the different categories of quality of life stands out,” says Mann.
Gradual Decline Doesn’t Have to Be the Norm
Laura Mayeda, MD, MPH, a practicing nephrologist (kidney specialist) and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, views more healthy days as a sign that Ozempic helps maintain consistently higher well-being.
“For patients already living with two serious chronic conditions — where gradual decline is the expected trajectory — maintaining stability is notable and that’s really our goal as clinicians,” she says.
The study authors also found that the benefits of semaglutide were broadly consistent, regardless of possible influencing factors such as body mass index (BMI), kidney function, past heart disease events, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (a lab test used to measure early kidney damage).
Researchers note that no significant difference was observed in relation to anxiety and depression between the two groups, which suggests semaglutide had a more significant impact on physical health than mental health.
Benefits Appeared to Outweigh Medication Side Effects
Because semaglutide medications are known to create gastrointestinal problems, Mann and his team weren’t sure if participants would actually report improved quality of life, or if drug side effects would cancel out the potential benefits.
“Adverse events from these drugs” — including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation — “can impair quality of life outcomes and lead to some stopping the drugs,” says Mann. “That made the results all the more surprising.”
He adds that the boost offered by semaglutide might actually help patients adhere to taking other prescribed medications.
How Could Ozempic Improve Quality of Life?
About 4 in 10 adults with diabetes will also develop chronic kidney disease, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That combination can significantly impact quality of life, by amplifying physical distress, increasing fatigue, and heightening the emotional burden of living with a chronic illness.
Dr. Mayeda says it’s only natural that quality of life gets better as people become physically healthier while taking these medications.
“I prescribe GLP-1 medications to many patients for kidney protection, and have seen a positive impact on kidney health in patients with and without diabetes,” she says.
Positive health effects from semaglutide include:
- Less inflammation
- Weight loss that reduces physical strain
- Slower progression of chronic kidney disease
- Benefits for many other organs, including the heart, liver, and brain
- Fewer hospitalizations
Taking the medications can lead to a positive health feedback loop, says Mayeda.
“For example, I’ve had patients with chronic pain that limited their mobility and functionality and were able to lose weight taking these medications,” she says. “Then they qualified for needed knee surgery that was previously not possible due to obesity. The knee surgery then lessened their pain, and they were able to be even more physically active.”
The Study Has Some Limitations
Joseph Vassalotti, MD, the chief medical officer for the National Kidney Foundation and a clinical professor of nephrology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, praised the investigation for being well-designed and extensive.
He says the results are somewhat limited, though, because they’re based on self-reported evaluations rather than actual objective measurements (for example improvements in blood pressure or A1C levels).
It’s also uncertain if the benefits would be maintained beyond two years.
Take Action to Improve the Day-to-Day
Mayeda urges people to have open conversations with their healthcare team about how they are coping on a daily basis and if their quality of life is suffering.
In addition to working with a healthcare provider, Dr. Vassalotti recommends a healthy, proactive lifestyle to maintain a higher quality of life.
In addition to possibly taking semaglutide, it can help to:
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