• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Behavioral Health
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Patient Engagement
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
    • Social Determinants of Health
  • Digital Health
    • AI
    • Blockchain
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Life Sciences
  • Investments
  • M&A
  • Value-based Care
    • Accountable Care (ACOs)
    • Medicare Advantage

American College of Cardiology Recommends GLP-1s as First Line Treatment Option

by Fred Pennic 06/20/2025 Leave a Comment

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

What You Should Know: 

– The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has published a new Concise Clinical Guidance (CCG) report, providing a comprehensive framework for clinicians to medically manage obesity using the “ever-expanding set of tools to assist patients in diagnosis, weight reduction, and CVD risk mitigation.”

– The new guidance, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), addresses the multiple causes of obesity and outlines a clinical decision-making process for incorporating modern pharmacologic weight management strategies into cardiovascular care.

A Framework for a Complex, Chronic Disease

The CCG acknowledges the multifaceted nature of obesity, highlighting its multiple causes, which include genetic, neurological, psychological, environmental, and social factors. It also emphasizes the strong link between obesity and cardiovascular disease risks such as sleep apnea, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. The guidance is designed to help clinicians navigate the use of modern obesity medications, which can offer significant benefits with fewer risks than some procedure-based interventions.

Key Pillars of the New Guidance

The clinical decision-making framework outlined in the CCG highlights several key areas for clinicians to consider:

  • Rationale and Eligibility: The guidance notes that pharmacotherapy strikes a crucial balance between effectiveness and invasiveness. Eligibility for these treatments may be determined by BMI thresholds or other cardiovascular risk indicators.
  • Pharmacological Options: Among U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide and the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide have demonstrated the highest efficacy. The guidance acknowledges that insurance coverage, availability, and affordability will likely be key factors in agent selection.
  • Impact on Cardiovascular Risk: The report cites clinical evidence supporting that these medications lead to a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes and elevated cardiovascular risk.
  • Multidisciplinary Care Approaches: The CCG emphasizes that team-based approaches are critical for effective weight management. This includes assessing modifiable risk factors, identifying comorbidities, and tailoring treatment strategies to the individual patient.
  • Reducing Bias and Improving the Patient Experience: The guidance calls on clinicians to validate the lifelong journey that patients experience with obesity. This includes using person-first language, creating welcoming clinical environments, and actively addressing weight stigmas.
  • Access Considerations: The report recognizes that a lack of insurance coverage remains a major barrier for patients. It suggests that initial strategies to improve access should include identifying individuals most likely to benefit from these therapies, closely monitoring treatment outcomes, and engaging in price negotiations.
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Tagged With: GLP-1

Tap Native

Get in-depth healthcare technology analysis and commentary delivered straight to your email weekly

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to HIT Consultant

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly.

Submit a Tip or Pitch

Featured Interview

Reach7 Diabetes Studios Founder Chun Yong on Reimagining Chronic Care with a Concierge Medical Model

Most-Read

HHS Finalizes HTI-4 Rule: Prior Authorization & E-Prescribing Interoperability

HHS Finalizes HTI-4 Rule: Prior Authorization & E-Prescribing Interoperability

Meaningful Use Penalties_Meaningful Use_Partial Code Free_Senators Urge CMS to Establish Clear Metrics for ICD-10 Testing

CMS Finalizes TEAM Model: A New Era of Value-Based Surgical Care

White House Event Unveils CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative

White House Event Unveils CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative

Digital Health Faces Q2'25 Pullback: Funding Falls to 5-Year Low, But AI Dominates and $1B+ IPOs Emerge

Healthcare Investment Shifts in 1H 2025: AI Remains a Bright Spot Amidst Fundraising Decline

Digital Health Faces Q2'25 Pullback: Funding Falls to 5-Year Low

Digital Health Faces Q2’25 Pullback: Funding Falls to 5-Year Low

Beyond the Hype: Building AI Systems in Healthcare Where Hallucinations Are Not an Option

Beyond the Hype: Building AI Systems in Healthcare Where Hallucinations Are Not an Option

Health IT Sector Navigates Policy Turbulence with Resilient M&A

Health IT’s New Chapter: IPOs Return, Resilient M&A, Valuations Rise in 1H 2025

PwC Report: US Medical Cost Trend to Remain Elevated at 8.5% in 2026

PwC Report: US Medical Cost Trend to Remain Elevated at 8.5% in 2026

Philips Launches ECG AI Marketplace, Partnering with Anumana to Enhance Cardiac Care with AI-Powered Diagnostics

Philips Launches ECG AI Marketplace, Partnering with Anumana to Enhance Cardiac Care with AI-Powered Diagnostics

WeightWatchers Emerges from Bankruptcy, Launches New Menopause Program

WeightWatchers Emerges from Bankruptcy, Launches New Menopause Program

Secondary Sidebar

Footer

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Submit An Op-Ed
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Editorial Coverage

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
  • Digital Health
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Blockchain Tech
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Startups
  • Value-Based Care
    • Accountable Care
    • Medicare Advantage

Connect

Subscribe to HIT Consultant Media

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly

Copyright © 2025. HIT Consultant Media. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy |