SELECT trial: 20% MACE reduction — looking for input

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Senior perspective on cardiovascular risk: I'm 65 years old and started this journey skeptically.

Same pattern here, and in the same order.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Senior perspective on cardiovascular risk: I'm 65 years old and started this journey skeptically.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

...cardiovascular risk is just another fad...

I understand the skepticism — we've all seen "miracle" weight loss solutions come and go. But consider what makes GLP-1 agonists different:

• Phase 3 RCTs with thousands of participants (not 20-person pilot studies)
• Published in NEJM, JAMA, Lancet (not press releases)
• Replicated across multiple independent research groups
• Proven cardiovascular and renal benefits beyond weight loss
• Biological mechanism fully characterized at the receptor level

This isn't a fad — it's a new drug class supported by the highest level of clinical evidence. The comparison to past fads is understandable but inappropriate.

Dr.EM_Chicago said:

Senior perspective on cardiovascular risk: I'm 65 years old and started this journey skeptically.

I'm 62 years old and want to share my perspective on cardiovascular risk as an older member of this community.

My doctor was initially hesitant because of my age, but the SELECT trial included patients up to 72 and showed consistent benefit across age groups. We started at the lowest dose with closer monitoring.

9 months later: down 46 lbs, off atorvastatin, A1C from 7.2% to 5.5%. My cardiologist is thrilled. cardiovascular risk is absolutely relevant for older adults — don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

One thing that is still open after Dr.EM_Chicago’s answer:

How long did you give it before you decided it was working?

Closing the loop on my own question.

Follow-up: I read the paper rather than the summary and the qualifier I was missing was in the second paragraph of the results.