TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of semaglutide on wound healing in diabetes related foot ulcer patients
T2 - A TriNetX database study
AU - Lewis, Joshua E.
AU - Omenge, Diana K.
AU - Patterson, Amani R.
AU - Anwaegbu, Ogechukwu
AU - Tabukum, Nangah N.
AU - Lewis, Jimmie E.
AU - Lee, Wei Chen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/3/1
Y1 - 2025/3/1
N2 - Introduction: Diabetes related foot ulcers (DFUs) are common complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), affecting 15–25% of individuals living with diabetes and significantly contributing to healthcare costs ($9–13 billion annually in the U.S.). Without effective management, these wounds often lead to severe outcomes like amputations. This study aims to examine the association of semaglutide on DFU management. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized TriNetX US Research Network data to assess the impact of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on DFU outcomes between 2013 and 2023. The study compared outcomes between semaglutide users with DFU (Cohort A, N = 6329) and non-users with DFU (Cohort B, N = 118,821) across 64 healthcare organizations. We matched participants by age, gender, race, and ethnicity; however, we excluded patients with certain co-morbidities. Statistical analysis, such as chi-square analysis and risk ratio, using TriNetX software evaluated different complication outcomes. Results: Semaglutide users with DFU demonstrated lower relative risks for complications compared to non-users. Within 1 year, semaglutide users were associated with lower relative risks for wound healing complications (0.19% vs 0.38%), chronic non-healing wounds (0.75% vs 1.23%), chronic pain (4.44% vs 8.06%), wound care (2.42% vs 4.86%), wound dehiscence (0.26% vs 0.56%), and amputation (2.34% vs 5.21%) (p <.05). Similar trends persisted over 5 years. While these findings highlight potential benefits of semaglutide with patients with DFU, causation cannot be inferred due to the study’s observational design. Conclusion: Semaglutide use was associated with favorable outcomes in patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers, including reductions in wound-related complications. While these findings suggest potential benefits of semaglutide as an adjunct in DFU management, further research is needed to confirm these associations and to better understand the mechanisms involved.
AB - Introduction: Diabetes related foot ulcers (DFUs) are common complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), affecting 15–25% of individuals living with diabetes and significantly contributing to healthcare costs ($9–13 billion annually in the U.S.). Without effective management, these wounds often lead to severe outcomes like amputations. This study aims to examine the association of semaglutide on DFU management. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized TriNetX US Research Network data to assess the impact of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, on DFU outcomes between 2013 and 2023. The study compared outcomes between semaglutide users with DFU (Cohort A, N = 6329) and non-users with DFU (Cohort B, N = 118,821) across 64 healthcare organizations. We matched participants by age, gender, race, and ethnicity; however, we excluded patients with certain co-morbidities. Statistical analysis, such as chi-square analysis and risk ratio, using TriNetX software evaluated different complication outcomes. Results: Semaglutide users with DFU demonstrated lower relative risks for complications compared to non-users. Within 1 year, semaglutide users were associated with lower relative risks for wound healing complications (0.19% vs 0.38%), chronic non-healing wounds (0.75% vs 1.23%), chronic pain (4.44% vs 8.06%), wound care (2.42% vs 4.86%), wound dehiscence (0.26% vs 0.56%), and amputation (2.34% vs 5.21%) (p <.05). Similar trends persisted over 5 years. While these findings highlight potential benefits of semaglutide with patients with DFU, causation cannot be inferred due to the study’s observational design. Conclusion: Semaglutide use was associated with favorable outcomes in patients with diabetes-related foot ulcers, including reductions in wound-related complications. While these findings suggest potential benefits of semaglutide as an adjunct in DFU management, further research is needed to confirm these associations and to better understand the mechanisms involved.
KW - diabetes complications
KW - Diabetes related foot ulcers
KW - GLP-1 receptor agonists
KW - semaglutide
KW - wound healing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105000452879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=105000452879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/14791641251322909
DO - 10.1177/14791641251322909
M3 - Article
C2 - 40080656
AN - SCOPUS:105000452879
SN - 1479-1641
VL - 22
JO - Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research
JF - Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research
IS - 2
ER -