For Monday, July 8, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest medical information, including:
Weight loss medication study finds Mounjaro more effective than Ozempic, Wegovy
When it comes to the latest developments in the weight loss drug war, a study is putting the two most popular to the test.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals the results comparing weight loss medications in patients.
While patients lost weight on both medications, Tirzepatide, sold under the names Mounjaro or Zepbound, was more beneficial than semaglutide, better known as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Patients taking Tirzepatide lost nearly 3 percent more weight in the first three months, 4.3 percent more at 6 months, and nearly 7 percent more after one year.
This study did not examine the impact on the heart, but other research has shown some cardiovascular benefits for patients who take these new classes of weight loss drugs.
Cardiologist shortage
Excess weight puts a strain on the heart but nearly half of the people in the US do not have access to a heart specialist.
The American College of Cardiology reports that 46.3% of counties in America lack a cardiologist.
Rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas are the least likely to have a heart doctor but people living there are more likely to have heart disease.
The average drive to a cardiologist in the US is 16 miles.
In counties without a cardiologist, the drive is nearly 90 miles.
Experts say they need to find a way to attract physicians to areas in need to mitigate heart disease and early death risk.
RSV vaccine safe during late pregnancy
Vaccines in pregnancy can aid both mother and baby.
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers say the RSV vaccine is not associated with an increased risk for preterm birth or other poor outcomes.
Vaccinating expectant mothers against respiratory syncytial virus or RSV does offer protection for newborns who are particularly vulnerable to serious respiratory illness following infection.
Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN’s Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here.