GLP-1 therapies for heart failure deliver dual benefits with lower hospitalizations and billions in CO₂ savings

GLP-1 therapies for heart failure deliver dual benefits with lower hospitalizations and billions in CO₂ savings

(IN BRIEF) Research presented at ESC Congress 2025 has shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists, used to treat patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, not only reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes but also cut the environmental footprint of healthcare. The patient-level meta-analysis of four large trials found that those taking GLP-1 therapy generated 0.25 kg fewer CO₂-equivalent emissions per person annually, driven by reduced inpatient stays and medical visits. Scaled to millions of eligible patients, this equates to more than 2 billion kilograms of CO₂ savings, comparable to tens of thousands of long-haul flights. Additional reductions in emissions were linked to lower calorie intake. Lead investigator Dr Sarju Ganatra emphasized that prescribing decisions can deliver dual benefits for patients and the planet, and urged policymakers to integrate sustainability into healthcare assessments and future guidelines.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 27-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A new study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025 has revealed that treatment of heart failure patients with GLP-1 receptor agonists not only improves clinical outcomes but also reduces the environmental impact of healthcare. The research highlights that prescribing decisions can carry dual benefits, contributing both to patient health and to planetary sustainability.

The analysis combined patient-level data from four randomized controlled trials (SELECT, FLOW, STEP HFpEF, and STEP HFpEF DM) involving nearly 4,000 individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Compared with placebo, patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists experienced significantly fewer hospitalizations and medical visits. These clinical improvements translated into lower greenhouse gas emissions, less medical waste, and reduced water usage.

On average, treatment reduced healthcare-related emissions by 0.25 kg CO₂-equivalent per patient per year. While this figure may appear small, when applied to the millions of people eligible for therapy, the savings could exceed 2 billion kilograms of CO₂-equivalent annually. This is comparable to the emissions from 20,000 long-haul flights or the city-wide output of Brussels over three months. The treatment also produced an additional reduction of nearly 700 kg CO₂-equivalent per patient per year due to lower calorie intake.

“The magnitude of the potential environmental savings was striking,” said study lead Dr Sarju Ganatra, Director of Sustainability and Vice Chair of Research at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, and President of Sustain Health Solutions. “Small per-person differences accumulate into enormous benefits when scaled across populations. Our study shows that treatments can be evaluated not only for clinical effectiveness but also for their impact on planetary health.”

Dr Ganatra added that healthcare is responsible for almost 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it vital to integrate sustainability metrics into medical decision-making. “By combining clinical trial data with environmental life cycle assessment, we demonstrate that medical therapies can simultaneously improve patient care and reduce environmental harm. Future health policy should consider sustainability when determining coverage, procurement, and formulary inclusion.”

The researchers acknowledged that the study used modeling and published life cycle data rather than direct patient-level emissions measurements, meaning future validation with real-world data is needed. Nevertheless, the results provide some of the first evidence that pharmacological treatment can deliver environmental co-benefits, strengthening the case for integrating ecological considerations into drug development and healthcare policy.

The findings also align with previous research showing that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce hospitalizations in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, further reinforcing their role in advancing both clinical and sustainability goals.

About ESC Congress 2025

It is the world’s largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals, disseminating ground-breaking science both onsite in Madrid and online – from 29 August to 1 September 2025. Explore the scientific programme. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org.

About the European Society of Cardiology

The ESC brings together healthcare professionals from more than 150 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people to live longer, healthier lives.

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