CVOTs: What did the endocrinologist learn?

Abstract

The recent CVOTs which tested the new glucose-lowering drugs (GLD) show that in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) it is now possible to reduce cardiovascular complications including ischemic events and hospitalization for heart failure, and mortality, and, to some extent, microvascular complications of diabetes, in particular renal outcomes. Additionally CVOTs provide major informations on safety and metabolic effects for long-term use of these drugs. The benefits with GLP-1 RAs are most likely derived through the reduction of atherosclerosis-related events while SGLT-2is seem mostly to reduce heart failure-related events. Specific mechanisms independent from glucose control are involved. Based on CVOTs results it is time, as stated in the new EASD-ADA and ESC/EASD guidelines, to take into consideration such opportunities in the decision-making process when treating T2DM patients, favoring the use of drugs that have shown clear cardiovascular and renal benefits. The treatment decisions require more expertise in the evaluation of cardiovascular and renal risk which becomes a major determinant for the choice of GLD treatment, the target for lipids, the adjustment of anti-hypertensive treatments and the prescription of aspirin. In this context it is essential that endocrinologists-diabetologists communicate more with cardiologists and nephrologists and with the primary care practitioners.

Keywords: CVOTs; Cardiovascular outcomes; Diabetes; Heart failure; Microangiopathic complications; Randomized clinical trials.