FLOW: Semaglutide improves quality of life in type 2 diabetes

Compared with placebo, semaglutide significantly improved multiple quality-of-life measures in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to data presented by Prof. Johannes Mann (Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany) [1].

FLOW (NCT03819153) was a phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trial that assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and concomitant CKD to once-weekly semaglutide plus standard of care or matching placebo plus standard of care. Patients were eligible if they had glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≤10% and were receiving a renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) blocker. The primary endpoint, time to first occurrence of a kidney event, was met and had been previously reported. Patient-reported outcomes, assessed using the EuroQol-5-Dimensions, 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, were prespecified exploratory endpoints and were collected at baseline and annually throughout the trial.

After 104 weeks, semaglutide significantly improved scores compared with placebo in the mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort subdomains of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, but not in the anxiety/depression domain (p=0.55). Furthermore, the EQ-5D-5L visual analogue scale (VAS) score increased by 1.05 points with semaglutide and decreased by 1.10 points with placebo, corresponding to a between-group difference of 2.15 points (95% CI 1.15–3.15), indicating an improvement in overall quality of life. However, analysis of the EQ-5D-5L utility score showed no difference between treatment groups after 104 weeks.

“In adults with type 2 diabetes and CKD, semaglutide treatment, despite its known gastrointestinal effects, was associated with higher quality-of-life scores, corresponding to an estimated additional 8 days of full health per year,” concluded Prof. Mann. “The improvements in quality of life were observed across multiple domains, including mobility, self-care, usual activities and pain/discomfort.”

Mann J, et al. The effects of semaglutide on health-related quality of life in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: FLOW trial. ERA 2026, 3–6 June. Glasgow, Scotland.