Patients who stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy face a 22 percent increase in cardiovascular risk after two years off treatment, according to a study of more than 330,000 people published in BMJ Medicine [1].

The research, led by Washington University in St. Louis, found that even brief interruptions carried consequences. Stopping GLP-1 medications for as little as six months erased cardiovascular benefits that had accumulated during treatment [2]. Patients who remained on the drugs continuously for three years saw an 18 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk, according to CNBC's reporting on the findings [3].

The study reinforces what cardiologists have cautioned: GLP-1 receptor agonists are not start-and-stop drugs. Lead author Ziyad Al-Aly described the cardiovascular protection as contingent on sustained use, and noted that real-world discontinuation often stems from cost, gastrointestinal intolerance, or access barriers rather than medical decisions [1].

Reuters reported that the findings add weight to arguments for broader insurance coverage, particularly as Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge program is set to begin in July 2026 [4]. The cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 drugs were first established in landmark trials for diabetes patients, but the new study extends the evidence to a wider population including those prescribed the drugs for weight management.

The implications are significant for the estimated millions of Americans cycling on and off GLP-1 medications due to cost or supply constraints.

-- Nora Whitfield, New York