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Review
. 2020 Mar;96(1133):156-161.
doi: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-137186. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

An overview of GLP-1 agonists and recent cardiovascular outcomes trials

Kelsey H Sheahan  1 , Elizabeth A Wahlberg  2 , Matthew P Gilbert  3
Affiliations
Review

An overview of GLP-1 agonists and recent cardiovascular outcomes trials

Kelsey H Sheahan et al. Postgrad Med J. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are emerging as an important therapy to consider for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) given this class of treatment's ability to reduce glycated haemoglobin and their associated weight loss and low risk for hypoglycaemia. Additionally, seven cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) have been performed in the past 4 years using lixisenatide, liraglutide, semaglutide, exenatide, albiglutide, dulaglutide and oral semaglutide. All have found non-inferiority for cardiovascular outcomes, with many finding superiority of these drugs. These findings have transformed our guidelines on pharmacological treatment of T2D. This review article will discuss GLP-1 RA therapy, review the seven CVOTs reported to date and discuss the implications on current guidelines and therapies going forward.

Keywords: adult cardiology; clinical pharmacology; coronary heart disease; general diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: MPG has worked as a consultant for Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, USA. KHS and EAW declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

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