Results from the FLOW trial, presented at the 63rd European Renal Association Congress, indicated that once-weekly semaglutide improved health-related quality of life in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease compared to a placebo.
After two years, health utility scores remained stable within the semaglutide group, while they decreased in the placebo group. The estimated treatment difference in health utility scores was 0.021, with a p-value of 0.0001. Self-rated general health scores demonstrated improvement with semaglutide and worsened with placebo, showing a treatment difference of 2.15, with a p-value less than 0.0001. Mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain and discomfort scores also improved with semaglutide in comparison to placebo, registering p-values less than 0.03. The study found no difference in anxiety and depression scores between the groups, with a p-value of 0.55.
The improvement in quality of life with semaglutide was estimated to be equivalent to approximately eight additional full-health days per year. Previous trial data showed semaglutide reduced major kidney disease events by 24 percent and all-cause mortality by 20 percent over a median treatment duration of 3.4 years. The FLOW trial included 3,533 randomized participants, with 1,767 receiving semaglutide and 1,766 receiving placebo. Researchers utilized the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire to assess various aspects of health-related quality of life, including mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, anxiety or depression, and overall health perception. Participants completed these assessments at baseline and annually.
Professor Johannes Mann said, "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." Mann said, "We were uncertain about quality-of-life outcomes because gastrointestinal side effects are common with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Our findings, however, confirm that the benefits of semaglutide in chronic kidney disease extend beyond traditional clinical endpoints to subjective outcomes that matter directly to patients." Mann added, "When speaking with representatives of CKD patient groups and in discussions around clinical trial outcomes, patients often place considerable importance on quality of life alongside longevity. Our findings reinforce the importance of a broader, patient-centred approach to treatment goals. They suggest that, overall, well-being may improve with semaglutide despite gastrointestinal side effects, complementing previously reported reductions in kidney and mortality risks." The treatment benefits were consistent across subgroups, defined by age, body mass index, kidney function, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and previous cardiovascular events.
Over 850 million people globally are living with chronic kidney disease, and case numbers have more than doubled since 1990. Chronic kidney disease is characterized by abnormalities in kidney structure or function lasting at least three months that impact health. The condition is associated with diabetes, hypertension, and cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions. Chronic kidney disease increases the risk of kidney failure and premature death.
No independent assessment was available for this report.