New Study: Mounjaro and Zepbound May Lower Death Risk for People With Serious Heart Problems

New research suggests that popular weight loss drugs containing tirzepatide — sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound — can significantly lower the risk of heart-related health problems in people with serious heart conditions.

These medications, known as GLP-1 drugs, help people lose weight and control blood sugar levels, which experts say leads to major heart health benefits.

Two studies presented at the SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions & CAIC-ACCI Summit in Montreal found that tirzepatide drugs may reduce heart risks for patients undergoing specific heart procedures. These include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in people with obesity.

The studies have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

In one study, researchers found that people taking tirzepatide who had a PCI procedure had a 62% lower risk of death.

Another study showed that people with obesity who had a TAVR procedure and did not take tirzepatide faced a 54% higher risk of being hospitalized for acute heart failure. They also had a 44% higher rate of major heart-related health events.

“GLP-1 agonists represent an important evolution in cardiometabolic care,” said Dr. Srihari Naidu, president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, in a news release. “Clinicians already recognize the benefits of glycemic control and weight reduction, but we are now beginning to understand how these therapies can improve outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter cardiovascular interventions.”

Experts who were not involved in the studies say the findings match what earlier research has already shown.

“These findings are consistent with what we are seeing broadly that medications like tirzepatide are not just weight loss drugs but have meaningful cardiometabolic benefits,” said Dr. Kevin Shah, a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute. “We do need prospective studies to validate the findings from these analyses.”

Study Details on Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

In the first study, researchers from John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago looked at medical records from the TriNetX database. They identified 1,281 adults with type 2 diabetes who were taking either tirzepatide or an older drug called dulaglutide at the time of their PCI procedure.

One month after PCI, people taking tirzepatide had lower rates of major heart problems, including heart attacks, heart failure, and dangerous heart rhythm issues. There was no difference in stroke rates between the two groups.

One year after PCI, the benefits continued. Researchers saw fewer heart attacks, heart failure episodes, deaths, strokes, and cardiac arrests among tirzepatide users.

However, one expert cautioned that the results might not be entirely due to the drug itself.

“The dramatic reductions seen here, more than 50% lower heart attack risk within just one month, are simply too large to be explained by the drug alone,” said Dr. Jackie DesJardin, a cardiologist at the University of California San Francisco. “Tirzepatide is new and expensive, and the patients who receive it tend to be more affluent and better connected to care.”

Second Study on TAVR Patients

In the second study, researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch used the same TriNetX database to study adults with obesity who had TAVR between January 2020 and January 2025. They compared those who took tirzepatide with those who did not.

People who did not take tirzepatide had worse outcomes over time and lower event-free survival. However, the researchers found no major differences between the two groups in rates of ischemic stroke, heart attack, or kidney injury.

“These results add to our rapidly growing evidence of the beneficial effects of GLP-1 agonists across a broad range of cardiometabolic conditions,” said Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center.

How GLP-1 Drugs Help the Heart

Experts say these drugs improve heart health by helping people lose weight and manage blood sugar levels.

“GLP1 agents such as semaglutide and tirzepatide promote weight loss, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce liver fat,” said Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute. “All of these biological improvements have been shown to reduce the risk for heart disease.”

Improperly controlled diabetes can damage the heart, explained Dr. Chen. Excess blood sugar can cause inflammation in blood vessel walls, lead to plaque buildup, and make the heart muscle stiff and less efficient at pumping blood.

Tirzepatide works by mimicking two natural gut hormones released after eating, leading to more weight loss and better control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, added Dr. DesJardin.

What to Know About GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs

Experts stress that these medications work best when combined with healthy lifestyle habits.

“People taking these medications should remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including getting regular physical activity, eating a heart-healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol,” Chen said.

Dr. Shah added that these drugs “work best as part of a broader plan of lifestyle changes. Patients should be monitored closely for side effects and determine long-term goals on this medication class.”

Dr. Ni noted that weight loss medications are meant to be a short-term solution while lifestyle habits produce lasting results.

“Even if my patients are using this for diabetes or cardiovascular prevention, it still is meaningful to modify diet, physical activity, exercise, sleep patterns, and other lifestyle measures to improve overall health,” he said. “I find my patients that are successful at changing the way they live to be healthier can get off these medications easier down the road and not regain the weight.”