Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Cardiovascular Events: Class Effects versus Individual Patterns

Abstract

Several new glucose-lowering medications have been approved, such as dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Among GLP-1RAs, lixisenatide, a short-acting drug, did not show cardiovascular (CV) benefits in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and acute coronary syndrome. Extended-release exenatide was also not significantly better for CV outcomes. By contrast, once daily liraglutide and once weekly semaglutide, both long-acting GLP-1RAs, decreased the incidence of major adverse CV events and mortality. This Review attempts to explain favorable CV results with some, but not all, GLP-1RAs, to aid in their differential prescription with the aim of further reducing the adverse CV burden of T2D.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular outcome; glucagon-like peptide-1; glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist.