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INVESTIGATING A DIABETES DRUG'S ROLE IN PREVENTING COVID-19 CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS [Funder: Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research]

Grant number: unknown

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • Funder

    Other Funders (Canada)

  • Principal Investigator

    Vladimir and Mansoor Dzavik and Husain

  • Research Location

    Canada

  • Lead Research Institution

    N/A

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Clinical characterisation and management

  • Research Subcategory

    Supportive care, processes of care and management

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Adults (18 and older)Older adults (65 and older)

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Unspecified

Abstract

This study is built on an evidence-based theory that GLP-1 receptor agonists - a diabetes treatment proven to have benefits on the heart - may protect high-risk COVID-19 patients from heart damage, and progression to severe disease outcomes. In this randomized clinical trial, researchers will test a four-week course of therapy against usual care to see whether semaglutide can reduce hospitalizations, ICU admissions, biomarker signs of heart injury, and death in these patients. In this study, those COVID-19 patients at high risk of adverse outcomes, based on global data, are people over age 60, with obesity, diabetes, or pre-existing cardiovascular or kidney disease, and anyone showing elevated biomarkers upon admission to hospital. It is believed semaglutide may reduce the endothelial activation in blood vessels and thrombosis that appears to underlie COVID-related heart damage, as well as the dangerous surge in immune activity observed in the sickest COVID-19 patients.