Benefit of Semaglutide in Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease by Baseline Type 2 Diabetes Characteristics: Insights From STRIDE, a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial.

Objective: The Semaglutide and Walking Capacity in People with Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease and Type 2 Diabetes (STRIDE) trial (NCT04560998) showed that once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1.0 mg significantly improved functional outcomes, symptoms, and quality of life in individuals with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) and type 2 diabetes. Whether these benefits are consistent across diabetes-related characteristics remains unclear.

Research Design And Methods: The primary outcome was the ratio to baseline (ETR) in maximum walking distance (MWD), with pain-free walking distance (PFWD) as a key secondary end point. Both were measured at 52 weeks using a constant load treadmill. Subgroup analyses were performed by diabetes duration, BMI, HbA1c, and diabetes medications. A mixed model for repeated measurements was used, incorporating treatment, region, and subgroup as fixed factors, and baseline value as covariate, along with the treatment-by-subgroup interaction.

Results: Among 792 participants (median diabetes duration 12.2 years, HbA1c 7.1%, and BMI 28.7 kg/m2), 35.1% used sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and 31.7% used insulin. Semaglutide significantly improved MWD regardless of diabetes duration (ETR of 1.15 vs. 1.13 for <10 vs. ≥10 years, P = 0.80), BMI (1.12 vs. 1.16 for <30 vs. ≥30 kg/m2, P = 0.58), HbA1c (1.13 for <7% and ≥7%, P = 0.99), or medication use. Semaglutide also improved PFWD across subgroups (P > 0.1 for all interactions). BMI reduction correlated weakly with MWD improvements and was more pronounced in the control individuals with higher baseline BMI. Safety outcomes were consistent across subgroups.

Conclusions: Semaglutide improved walking function in people with PAD and type 2 diabetes, including individuals without obesity and those with well-controlled HbA1c. Benefits were consistent across BMI and HbA1c categories, supporting effectiveness beyond weight or glycemic changes.