MACE (Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events)
The composite endpoint — heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death — that trials like SELECT measure.
MACE bundles the outcomes that matter most into one countable endpoint: cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke. Outcome trials run for years and tally MACE in each arm; SELECT's "-20%" means semaglutide patients experienced a fifth fewer of these events than placebo patients, relative risk.
Understanding the term protects against both under- and over-reading: a 20% relative reduction is substantial public-health news, but it isn't a personal guarantee, and absolute risk reduction depends on your baseline. It's also the word to listen for as tirzepatide's own outcome trials report — MACE results are how weight drugs graduate into cardiology.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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