The participants had their blood pressure monitored for a day before beginning treatment and again after nine months of weekly tirzepatide injections.
The results showed a significant decrease in the participants’ systolic blood pressure, the top number in blood pressure readings, which is a strong predictor of heart disease.
It works similarly to semaglutide, the active compound in the weight loss drug Wegovy and its sister diabetes drug, Ozempic.
Although there are effective blood pressure medications available, only about a quarter of people with hypertension have adequately controlled blood pressure, Hall said.
He views the weight loss effect of the drug as a pleasant side effect that will make people more likely to take their medication.
Persons:
—, Eli Lilly, ”, Harlan Krumholz, Michael E, Wegovy, it’s, Ania Jastreboff, Hall, Krumholz, tirzepatide, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Meg Tirrell
Organizations:
CNN, American Heart Association, Food and Drug Administration, Yale University, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Yale Obesity Research Center, CNN Health
Locations:
United States