Search

Background: People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for heart failure (HF) and premature death from cardiovascular (CV) causes. The FLOW (Research Study To See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease), which enrolled participants with T2D and CKD, demonstrated that semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, reduced the incidence of the primary composite outcome (persistent ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate, persistent estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , kidney replacement therapy, and kidney or CV death) by 24%., Objectives: This prespecified analysis examined the effects of semaglutide on HF outcomes in this high-risk population., Methods: Participants were randomized (1:1) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1 mg or placebo. The prespecified main outcome was a composite of HF events (new onset or worsening of HF leading to an unscheduled hospital admission or an urgent visit, with initiation of or intensified diuretic/vasoactive therapy) or CV death. HF data were collected by the investigator. CV death was adjudicated by an independent committee., Results: A total of 3,533 randomized participants were followed for a median of 3.4 years. HF was present at baseline in 342 participants (19.4%) in the semaglutide group and 336 (19.0%) in the placebo group. In the overall trial population, semaglutide increased time to first HF events or CV death (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62-0.87; P = 0.0005), HF events alone (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58-0.92; P = 0.0068), and CV death alone (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56-0.89; P = 0.0036). The risk reduction for the composite HF outcome was similar in those with (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.54-0.98; P = 0.0338) and without (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.58-0.89; P = 0.0028) HF at baseline. The risk of HF outcomes (HF events or CV death) was generally higher in participants categorized as NYHA functional class III and those with the HF reduced ejection fraction subtype, regardless of treatment., Conclusions: Semaglutide substantially reduced the risk of time to first composite outcome of HF events or CV death, as well as HF events and CV death alone, in a high-risk population with T2D and CKD. These effects were consistent regardless of history of HF. (A Research Study To See How Semaglutide Works Compared to Placebo in People With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease [FLOW]; NCT03819153)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures The FLOW trial was funded by Novo Nordisk A/S. Dr Pratley has received speaker fees paid to his employer, AdventHealth (through December 31, 2023) from Eli Lilly, Lilly USA LLC, and Novo Nordisk; has received consulting fees directed to his institution from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Corcept Therapeutics, Dexcom, Endogenex, Gasherbrum Bio, Genprex, Getz Pharma, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Hengrui (USA) Ltd, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Lilly USA LLC, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Scholar Rock, and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries; has received grants directed to his institution from Biomea Fusion, Carmot Therapeutics, Dompe, Endogenex, Fractyl, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi; and has received personal fees (from January 1, 2024) from AdventHealth, a nonprofit entity. Dr Tuttle has received support from National Institutes of Health research grants R01MD014712, U2CDK114886, UL1TR002319, U54DK083912, U01DK100846, OT2HL161847, UM1AI109568, and OT2OD032581, and from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project numbers 75D301-21-P-12254 and 75D301-23-C-18264; has received investigator-initiated grant support from Travere, Bayer, and the Doris Duke Foundation outside of the submitted work; has received consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk; and has received speaker fees from Novo Nordisk. Dr Rossing has received grants from Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Novo Nordisk; has received honoraria paid to the Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen from AstraZeneca, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Mundipharma, Sanofi, and Bayer; and has received consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gilead, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Mundipharma, Sanofi, and Bayer. Dr Perkovic has received honoraria for steering committee, data monitoring committee, or advisory board roles or for scientific presentations from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chinook, GSK, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Otsuka, Travere, Tricida, and UptoDate; and is Board Director for George Clinical, St Vincent’s Health Australia and several independent medical research institutes. Dr Mann has received grants from Novo Nordisk, the European Union, and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; has received consulting fees from Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Boehringer Ingelheim; has received honoraria from Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Novartis; and has participated on a data safety monitoring board or advisory board for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, as well as a leadership role in the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes group. Dr MacIsaac was a FLOW trial investigator and member of the FLOW global expert panel; has received research grants from Novo Nordisk, Servier, Medtronic, The Rebecca Cooper Medical Research Foundation, St Vincent’s Research Foundation, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Grey Innovations, The Diabetes Australia Research Trust/Program, and The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; has received honoraria for lectures from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, MSD, Novartis, and Boehringer Ingelheim; has been on the advisory boards for Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim-Eli Lilly Diabetes Alliance, AstraZeneca, and MSD; has received travel support from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, and AstraZeneca; and has been a principal investigator for industry-sponsored clinical trials run by Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Bayer, Johnson-Cilag, and AbbVie. Dr Kosiborod has received research grant support from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim; has served as a consultant or on an advisory board for Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Vifor Pharma; has received other research support from AstraZeneca; and has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Kamenov has received speaker fees from Actavis, AstraZeneca, Bayer-Schering, Berlin Chemie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, KRKA, Merck, MLD, MSD (Merck), Mundipharma, Mylan, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sandoz, Sanofi, Servier, TEVA Pharmaceuticals, Valentis, Vedra, and Viatris. Dr Hadjadj has received grants from Asdia, Asten, AstraZeneca, Homeperf, LVL, Nestle Home Care, Pierre Fabre, and VitalAire; has received consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Servier, and Valbiotis; has received speaker fees from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Dino Santé, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Servier, and Valbiotis; and has received meeting invitations from AstraZeneca, Abbott, Dino Santé, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Bakris has received consulting fees from Bayer, KBP Biosciences, Ionis, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Quantum Genomics, Novo Nordisk, and Dia Medica Therapeutics. Dr Mahaffey has received grants from the American Heart Association, Apple, Bayer, California Institute Regenerative Medicine, CSL Behring, Eidos, Ferring, Gilead, Google (Verify), Idorsia, Johnson and Johnson, Luitpold, Novartis, PAC-12, Precordior, and Sanifit; and has received consulting fees from Applied Therapeutics, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, BridgeBio, CSL Behring, Elsevier, Fosun Pharma, Human, Johnson and Johnson, Moderna, Myokardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Otsuka, PhaseBio, Portola, Quidel, and Theravance; and holds equity in Human, Medeloop, Precordior and Regencor. Drs Rasmussen, Nielsen, Idorn, Hansen, and Baeres are employees of and shareholders in Novo Nordisk., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: In the FLOW trial, semaglutide reduced the risks of kidney and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and death in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). These prespecified analyses assessed the effects of semaglutide on CV outcomes and death by CKD severity., Methods: Participants were randomised to subcutaneous semaglutide 1 mg or placebo weekly. The main outcome was a composite of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) ornon-fatal stroke (CV death/MI/stroke) as well as death due to any cause by baseline CKD severity. CKD was categorised by eGFR < or ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, UACR < or ≥300 mg/g or KDIGO risk classification., Results: 3533 participants were randomised with a median follow-up of 3.4 years. Low/moderate KDIGO risk was present in 242 (6.9%), while 878 (24.9%) had high and 2412 (68.3%) had very high KDIGO risk. Semaglutide reduced CV death/MI/stroke by 18% (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.68-0.98]; P = .03), with consistency across eGFR categories, UACR levels and KDIGO risk classification (all P-interaction >.13). Death due to any cause was reduced by 20% (HR 0.80 [0.67-0.95]; P = .01), with consistency across eGFR categories and KDIGO risk class (P-interaction .21 and .23, respectively). The P-interaction treatment effect for death due to any cause by UACR was .01 (<300 mg/g HR 1.17 [0.83-1.65]; ≥300 mg/g HR 0.70 [0.57-0.85])., Conclusions: Semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of CV death/MI/stroke regardless of baseline CKD severity in participants with T2D., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are at high risk for kidney failure, cardiovascular events, and death. Whether treatment with semaglutide would mitigate these risks is unknown., Methods: We randomly assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 50 to 75 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2 of body-surface area and a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams] of >300 and <5000 or an eGFR of 25 to <50 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2 and a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of >100 and <5000) to receive subcutaneous semaglutide at a dose of 1.0 mg weekly or placebo. The primary outcome was major kidney disease events, a composite of the onset of kidney failure (dialysis, transplantation, or an eGFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2 ), at least a 50% reduction in the eGFR from baseline, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified confirmatory secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically., Results: Among the 3533 participants who underwent randomization (1767 in the semaglutide group and 1766 in the placebo group), median follow-up was 3.4 years, after early trial cessation was recommended at a prespecified interim analysis. The risk of a primary-outcome event was 24% lower in the semaglutide group than in the placebo group (331 vs. 410 first events; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.88; P = 0.0003). Results were similar for a composite of the kidney-specific components of the primary outcome (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.94) and for death from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.89). The results for all confirmatory secondary outcomes favored semaglutide: the mean annual eGFR slope was less steep (indicating a slower decrease) by 1.16 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2 in the semaglutide group (P<0.001), the risk of major cardiovascular events 18% lower (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.98; P = 0.029), and the risk of death from any cause 20% lower (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95, P = 0.01). Serious adverse events were reported in a lower percentage of participants in the semaglutide group than in the placebo group (49.6% vs. 53.8%)., Conclusions: Semaglutide reduced the risk of clinically important kidney outcomes and death from cardiovascular causes in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. (Funded by Novo Nordisk; FLOW ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03819153.)., (Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) improve glycaemic control and lower body weight in people with T2D, and some reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in those with high CV risk. GLP-1RAs might also have kidney-protective effects. We report the design and baseline data for FLOW (NCT03819153), a trial investigating the effects of semaglutide, a once-weekly (OW) GLP-1RA, on kidney outcomes in participants with CKD and T2D., Methods: FLOW is a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multinational, phase 3b trial. Participants with T2D, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥50‒≤75 ml/min/1.73 m2 and urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) >300‒<5000 mg/g or eGFR ≥25‒<50 ml/min/1.73 m2 and UACR >100‒<5000 mg/g were randomised 1:1 to OW semaglutide 1.0 mg or matched placebo, with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade (unless not tolerated/contraindicated). The composite primary endpoint is time to first kidney failure (persistent eGFR <15 ml/min/1.73 m2 or initiation of chronic kidney replacement therapy), persistent ≥50% reduction in eGFR or death from kidney or CV causes., Results: Enrolled participants (N = 3534) had a baseline mean age of 66.6 years [standard deviation (SD) 9.0], haemoglobin A1c of 7.8% (SD 1.3), diabetes duration of 17.4 years (SD 9.3), eGFR of 47.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 (SD 15.2) and median UACR of 568 mg/g (range 2‒11 852). According to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines categorisation, 68.2% were at very high risk for CKD progression., Conclusion: FLOW will evaluate the effect of semaglutide on kidney outcomes in participants with CKD and T2D, and is expected to be completed in late 2024., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.)

Background: IL-6 has emerged as a pivotal factor in atherothrombosis. Yet, the safety and efficacy of IL-6 inhibition among individuals at high atherosclerotic risk but without a systemic inflammatory disorder is unknown. We therefore addressed whether ziltivekimab, a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 ligand, safely and effectively reduces biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis among patients with high cardiovascular risk. We focused on individuals with elevated high-sensitivity CRP and chronic kidney disease, a group with substantial unmet clinical need in whom previous studies in inflammation inhibition have shown efficacy for cardiovascular event reduction., Methods: RESCUE is a randomised, double-blind, phase 2 trial done at 40 clinical sites in the USA. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, and high-sensitivity CRP of at least 2 mg/L. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1:1:1) to subcutaneous administration of placebo or ziltivekimab 7·5 mg, 15 mg, or 30 mg every 4 weeks up to 24 weeks. The primary outcome was percentage change from baseline in high-sensitivity CRP after 12 weeks of treatment with ziltivekimab compared with placebo, with additional biomarker and safety data collected over 24 weeks of treatment. Primary analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of assigned treatment. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03926117., Findings: Between June 17, 2019, and Jan 14, 2020, 264 participants were enrolled into the trial, of whom 66 were randomly assigned to each of the four treatment groups. At 12 weeks after randomisation, median high-sensitivity CRP levels were reduced by 77% for the 7·5 mg group, 88% for the 15 mg group, and 92% for the 30 mg group compared with 4% for the placebo group. As such, the median pairwise differences in percentage change in high-sensitivity CRP between the ziltivekimab and placebo groups, after aligning for strata, were -66·2% for the 7·5 mg group, -77·7% for the 15 mg group, and -87·8% for the 30 mg group (all p<0·0001). Effects were stable over the 24-week treatment period. Dose-dependent reductions were also observed for fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, secretory phospholipase A2, and lipoprotein(a). Ziltivekimab was well tolerated, did not affect the total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, and there were no serious injection-site reactions, sustained grade 3 or 4 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia., Interpretation: Ziltivekimab markedly reduced biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis relevant to atherosclerosis. On the basis of these data, a large-scale cardiovascular outcomes trial will investigate the effect of ziltivekimab in patients with chronic kidney disease, increased high-sensitivity CRP, and established cardiovascular disease., Funding: Novo Nordisk., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests During the course of this trial, PMR received research grant support from Novartis, Kowa, Amarin, Pfizer, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; served as a consultant to Corvidia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Flame, Agepha, Inflazome, AstraZeneca, Jannsen, Civi Biopharm, SOCAR, and Omeicos; and has a financial interest in Uptton, a company developing unrelated anti-inflammatory therapy. MDe, LL, DK, and MDa were employees of and held equity in Corvidia Therapeutics. FMMB, MDME, GKH, and MI are employees of and hold equity in Novo Nordisk. PP has served as a consultant to Corvidia and was a trial investigator whose employer received trial funds. DR is supported by National Institutes of Health grants 1 R01 DK125256-01, U01DK099914, and U01DK099924. PL is an unpaid consultant to, or involved in clinical trials for Amgen, AstraZeneca, Baim Institute, Beren Therapeutics, Esperion, Therapeutics, Genentech, Kancera, Kowa Pharmaceuticals, Medimmune, Merck, Norvo Nordisk, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Regeneron; is a member of scientific advisory boards for Amgen, Corvidia Therapeutics, DalCor Pharmaceuticals, Kowa Pharmaceuticals, Olatec Therapeutics, Medimmune, Novartis, and XBiotech, a company developing therapeutic human antibodies; has received laboratory research funding in the past 2 years from Novartis; is on the Board of Directors of XBiotech; has a financial interest in Xbiotech, a company developing therapeutic human antibodies; and receives research funding support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (1R01HL134892), the American Heart Association (18CSA34080399), the RRM Charitable Fund, and the Simard Fund., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To assess longitudinal risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and cost of healthcare resource utilization over 9 years in patients with or without newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who had no ASCVD at baseline., Methods: This retrospective, longitudinal analysis of a large, nationwide US administrative claims database compared adults with newly diagnosed T2DM (n = 22,468) and a propensity score matched non-T2DM cohort (n = 22,468). Longitudinal risk of ASCVD and total annual healthcare costs were determined. Subgroup analysis was conducted for 3 age categories: 18-44, 45-64, and 65+ years., Results: From 2006 to 2015, ASCVD was identified in a significantly greater percentage of patients in the T2DM versus non-T2DM cohort (43.2% vs 32.3%; Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.45, P < 0.001). Total annual healthcare cost was markedly higher in T2DM versus non-T2DM cohorts (48.4% higher at year 9). The differences between cohorts were most pronounced in patients aged 18-44 years., Conclusions: This 9-year claims-based retrospective, longitudinal analysis showed a higher risk of ASCVD and higher healthcare costs in newly diagnosed T2DM patients versus those without T2DM, with highest relative risk and cost differences observed in younger patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest W. Weng, Y. Liang, J. Brett, and T. Hobbs are employees and shareholders of Novo Nordisk Inc., the funding body for this study. F. M. M. Baeres is an employee and shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: More data regarding effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and heart failure (HF) are required., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of liraglutide on cardiovascular events and mortality in LEADER (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results) participants, by HF history., Methods: In the multinational, double-blind, randomized LEADER trial, 9,340 patients with T2D and high cardiovascular risk were assigned 1:1 to liraglutide (1.8 mg daily or maximum tolerated dose up to 1.8 mg daily) or placebo plus standard care, and followed for 3.5 to 5 years. New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV HF was an exclusion criterion. The primary composite major adverse cardiovascular events outcome was time to first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Post hoc Cox regression analyses of outcomes by baseline HF history were conducted., Results: At baseline, 18% of patients had a history of NYHA functional class I to III HF (liraglutide: n = 835 of 4,668; placebo: n = 832 of 4,672). Effects of liraglutide versus placebo on major adverse cardiovascular events were consistent in patients with (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65 to 1.02]) and without (HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.78 to 1.00]) a history of HF (p interaction = 0.53). In both subgroups, fewer deaths were observed with liraglutide (HR: 0.89 [95% CI: 0.70 to 1.14] with HF; HR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.70 to 0.97] without HF; p interaction = 0.63) versus placebo. No increased risk of HF hospitalization was observed with liraglutide, regardless of HF history (HR: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.75 to 1.28] with HF; HR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.61 to 1.00] without HF; p interaction = 0.22). Effects of liraglutide on the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death were consistent in patients with (HR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.74 to 1.15]) and without (HR: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.65 to 0.91]) a history of HF (p interaction = 0.19)., Conclusions: Based on these findings, liraglutide should be considered suitable for patients with T2D with or without a history of NYHA functional class I to III HF. (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results [LEADER]; NCT01179048)., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) according to number of affected vascular beds and the impact on healthcare utilization and costs in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) and established ASCVD., Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional analysis, adults with type 2 DM and ASCVD in a large US administrative claims database were categorized by number of ASCVD-affected vascular beds (brain, heart, peripheral vasculature). Annual healthcare utilization and costs for 2015 were determined, including subgroup analyses by age group (18-44, 45-64, ≥65 years)., Results: Among 539 089 individuals with type 2 DM and ASCVD, 47.0% had ASCVD affecting >1 vascular bed. The most prevalent ASCVD diagnoses were acute coronary syndrome (26.6%), peripheral arterial disease (24.5%) and stroke (18.6%). Mean annual total healthcare costs per person increased with increasing number of vascular beds, from 1 ($17 741) to 2 ($25 877) to 3 ($33 412). A similar pattern of increased healthcare utilization with increasing number of vascular beds was observed. Among individuals with 1 affected vascular bed, mean total healthcare costs per person were comparable across age subgroups; however, if >1 vascular bed was affected, the mean total healthcare costs were highest in the youngest age cohort., Conclusions: These real-world data showed that almost half of individuals with type 2 DM and ASCVD had ASCVD affecting >1 vascular bed. A higher number of affected vascular beds were associated with higher mean total healthcare costs and utilization, with a disproportionate increase noted in younger relative to older people., Competing Interests: R. Ganguly, M. Hersloev, J. Brett and T. Hobbs are current employees of Novo Nordisk Inc, the funding body for this study. F. M. M. Baeres is a current employee of Novo Nordisk A/S. W. Weng and S. X. Kong were employees of Novo Nordisk, Inc, during study conduct., (© 2020 Novo Nordisk Inc.. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)