science

Weight loss drugs can reduce by half the risk of heart patients being hospitalised or dying early, according to the largest study of its kind.

The class of drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists, have been found to offer “dramatic benefits” to heart patients, significantly cutting their risk of falling seriously ill or dying prematurely from any cause.

The discovery, revealed at the world’s largest heart conference in Madrid, means they could be given to millions of heart patients to help them stay out of hospital and live longer.

Weight loss drugs mimic the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 1 hormone, which makes people feel full, and were initially developed to treat diabetes. In recent years evidence has emerged suggesting they could prove to be lifesaving across a range of conditions beyond obesity.