Improved health-related quality of life with semaglutide in people with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A randomised trial

[Background] Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can adversely affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
[Aims] This double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial aimed to report the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, on HRQoL in patients with NASH as a secondary endpoint.
[Methods] Adults with biopsy-proven NASH and stage 1–3 fibrosis were randomised (3:3:3:1:1:1) to once-daily subcutaneous semaglutide 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg, or placebo, for 72 weeks. Patients were invited to complete the Short Form-36 version 2.0 questionnaire at weeks 0, 28, 52 and 72.
[Results] Between January 2017 and September 2018, 320 patients were enrolled. At 72 weeks, semaglutide was associated with significant improvements in physical component summary (PCS) score (estimated treatment difference [ETD] 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.96–6.55; p = 0.0003); bodily pain (ETD 5.07; 95% CI: 2.15–7.99; p = 0.0007); physical functioning (ETD 3.51; 95% CI: 1.16–5.86; p = 0.0034); role limitations due to physical health problems (ETD 2.80; 95% CI: 0.28–5.33; p = 0.0294); social functioning (ETD 3.16; 95% CI: 0.53–5.78; p = 0.0183) and vitality (ETD 4.47; 95% CI: 1.63–7.32; p = 0.0021). There was no significant difference in the mental component summary score (ETD 1.02; 95% CI: −1.59 to 3.62; p = 0.4441). After 72 weeks, improvements in PCS scores were significantly greater in patients (pooled semaglutide and placebo) with NASH resolution than without (p = 0.014).
[Conclusions] Treatment with semaglutide is associated with improvements in the physical components of HRQoL in patients with biopsy-proven NASH and fibrosis compared with placebo. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02970942.