NoneNo Change
Blood lactate concentration
Semaglutide → Blood lactate concentration
Semaglutide → Blood lactate concentration
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeMetabolic Health
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Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™
Oral semaglutide may improve cardiovascular event prevention in type 2 diabetes.
Key finding
The trial aims to assess the primary prevention of cardiovascular events.
The ASCEND PLUS trial evaluated oral semaglutide for preventing cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes but found no significant benefits.
Evidence strength
Moderate confidence
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Some Concerns bias
Last updated July 8, 2026Quick read
Study at a glance
The essential study design details in one scan.
Population
Young Adult (19–39), Middle Aged (40-64), Male, Female, Asia-Pacific (APAC), with T2 Diabetes
Intervention
Oral Semaglutide
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Short-Term (≤3 mo)
Primary outcome
Incidence of cardiovascular events
Comparator
Standard care for diabetes management
Plain-language summary
What this paper says
A plain-language read of the study's main message and where it applies.
Study focus
The ASCEND PLUS trial evaluated oral semaglutide for preventing cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes but found no significant benefits.
Clinical relevance
Understanding the effectiveness of treatments like oral semaglutide is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes and preventing cardiovascular complications. The findings suggest that while semaglutide is a valuable medication for diabetes management, it may not provide additional cardiovascular protection, highlighting the need for further research into effective prevention strategies.
Keep in mind
The study may have limited generalizability due to specific inclusion criteria. The sample size and duration may not have been sufficient to detect subtle effects. Outcomes were primarily focused on cardiovascular events, potentially overlooking other benefits.
Published in
Journal Reference
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Muram E, Rohan W, David P, et al. ASCEND PLUS: A randomised controlled trial assessing the effects of oral semaglutide on the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Trials. 2024;25:554. doi:10.1186/s13063-024-08393-2
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Main Effects
No significant difference in the incidence of cardiovascular events.
No significant difference in non-cardiovascular death rates.
No significant difference in hospitalization for cardiovascular disease.
Evidence network
How this study fits
Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.
Evidence Context
This study contributes evidence to Semaglutide and Blood lactate concentration, Cardiovascular events, Cardiovascular mortality, and 6 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Semaglutide
Primary outcomes
- Blood lactate concentration
- Cardiovascular events
- Cardiovascular mortality
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Evidence relationships
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
9
Evidence pairs
9
Relationships
2
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence
Editorial context
Why this study matters
See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.
Evidence network role
This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.
Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 64
2
Related topics
9
Evidence pairs
75
Related studies
High relevance in at least one topic
Why it is useful
- Contributes to 9 evidence relationships
- Includes primary outcome data
- Linked to 2 direct semantic evidence topics
Topic contributions
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Evidence topic
Contributes evidence
Core evidence
Study findings
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
StrongDecrease
Cardiovascular events
Semaglutide → Cardiovascular events
Semaglutide → Cardiovascular events
Evidence profile
StrongDecreaseClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Cardiovascular mortality
Semaglutide → Cardiovascular mortality
Semaglutide → Cardiovascular mortality
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
Semaglutide → Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
Semaglutide → Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Hospitalization for any cardiovascular disease
Semaglutide → Hospitalization for any cardiovascular disease
Semaglutide → Hospitalization for any cardiovascular disease
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Incidence of non-cardiovascular death
Semaglutide → Incidence of non-cardiovascular death
Semaglutide → Incidence of non-cardiovascular death
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Incidence of vascular events within 90 days
Semaglutide → Incidence of vascular events within 90 days
Semaglutide → Incidence of vascular events within 90 days
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes
Semaglutide → Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes
Semaglutide → Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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NoneNo Change
Relative risk reduction for major renal events
Semaglutide → Relative risk reduction for major renal events
Semaglutide → Relative risk reduction for major renal events
Evidence profile
NoneNo ChangeClinical Outcomes
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Create a free account to access effectiveness ratings, evidence strength and depth scores, consistency analysis, and direct links to all supporting studies.
Evidence Suggest
- Oral semaglutide did not significantly reduce cardiovascular event incidence.
- No significant differences in hospitalization rates for cardiovascular disease were observed.
- Cardiovascular mortality rates showed no significant change.
Who this applies to
- Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
- Individuals at risk for cardiovascular events.
Keep in Mind
- The findings are specific to the population studied and may not apply to all individuals with diabetes.
- The trial's outcomes did not account for potential long-term effects of oral semaglutide.
- Further research is needed to explore other potential benefits of semaglutide beyond cardiovascular prevention.
Between the Lines
- The study may have limited generalizability due to specific inclusion criteria.
- The sample size and duration may not have been sufficient to detect subtle effects.
- Outcomes were primarily focused on cardiovascular events, potentially overlooking other benefits.
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Connected Evidence
Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.
Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Outcomes, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Outcomes.
Related evidence relationships
Explore in Evidence ArchiveThis study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Included in these evidence collections
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
Cardiovascular Outcomes Evidence Hub
All studies measuring Cardiovascular Outcomes
3 studies
outcome_hubMeasures Cardiovascular Outcomes as a key outcome.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub
All studies on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
3 studies
intervention_hubContributes to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists evidence base.
Recent Diabetes Research
Latest published studies
recency_collection
Published within the last 2 years.
Explore more in the evidence archive
Jump to pre-filtered views in the evidence archive.
All studies on Semaglutide and Cardiovascular events
Intervention: SemaglutideOutcome: Cardiovascular events
3 results
All studies on Semaglutide and Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
Intervention: SemaglutideOutcome: Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
5 results
All studies on Semaglutide
Intervention: Semaglutide
3 results
All studies measuring Cardiovascular events
Outcome: Cardiovascular events
3 results
All studies measuring Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
Outcome: Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
5 results
Questions answered by this study
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists improve cardiovascular outcomes?
Emerging Evidence
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may improve Cardiovascular Outcomes.
ConsensusScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Cardiovascular events
EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 60.6 | strong positive | ConsensusScore™ Consistent | 1 study
- 2
Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 57.7 | moderate positive | ConsensusScore™ Generally Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on 9 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.
Limitations
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Semaglutide improve major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained egfr decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes?
Emerging Evidence
Semaglutide may improve Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes.
ConsensusScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.
Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causes
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 47.8 | moderate positive | ConsensusScore™ Mixed | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Semaglutide improve relative risk reduction for major renal events?
Emerging Evidence
Semaglutide may improve Relative risk reduction for major renal events.
ConsensusScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.
Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Relative risk reduction for major renal events
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 47.8 | moderate positive | ConsensusScore™ Mixed | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Population details are unavailable.
Does Semaglutide improve cardiovascular mortality?
Limited Evidence
Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Semaglutide for Cardiovascular mortality.
ConsensusScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
- 1
Cardiovascular mortality
EvidenceScore™ Limited | EvidenceScore™ 39.7 | neutral | ConsensusScore™ Consistent | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
- Only one supporting study is available.
- Population details are unavailable.
Next steps
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Evidence topics
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All studies on Semaglutide and Cardiovascular eventsAll studies on Semaglutide and Composite cardiovascular events (CV death, MI, stroke, HF hospitalization)All studies on Semaglutide and Major kidney disease events composite including end-stage renal disease, sustained eGFR decline, and death from renal or cardiovascular causesAll studies on Semaglutide and Relative risk reduction for major renal events
Related research
Read related research summaries.
Semaglutide may reduce cardiovascular events in non-diabetic patients.Oral semaglutide reduces cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetesHigher semaglutide doses improve glucose control in type 2 diabetesNovel Semaglutide Injection Shows Non-Inferior Glycemic ControlSemaglutide cuts insulin needs in adults with type 1 diabetes and obesity
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