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Cardiovascular Outcome Trial Update in Diabetes: New Evidence, Remaining Questions

  • Macrovascular Complications in Diabetes (VR Aroda and A Getaneh, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Diabetes Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Seven trials of new agents to treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have been performed to assess cardiovascular (CV) safety. A significant amount of information regarding the effects of drugs in three classes is available, with new data from multiple other trials expected shortly. This article provides a summary of recently completed trials.

Recent Findings

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors studied thus far do not alter the risk of major adverse CV events (MACE). Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists liraglutide and semaglutide, and the sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor empagliflozin, significantly reduced the risk of MACE. Empagliflozin also decreased the risk of hospitalization for heart failure. Agents demonstrating a CV outcome benefit also improved parameters of renal function.

Summary

Several newer antihyperglycemic agents have been found to reduce the risk of important CV complications in high-risk patients with T2DM. Future trials are needed to assess the effects of additional drugs and the impact of therapy in lower risk patients and provide additional information regarding non-CV safety outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Rebecca Herbst, Wilburn Bolton, Afreen Shariff & Jennifer B. Green

  2. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA

    Jennifer B. Green

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  1. Rebecca Herbst
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  2. Wilburn Bolton
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Correspondence to Jennifer B. Green.

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Conflict of Interest

Rebecca Herbst, Wilburn Bolton, and Afreen Shariff declare that they have no conflict of interest. Jennifer B. Green report grants and personal fees from Merck, grants from AstraZeneca, grants from GlaxoSmithKline, personal fees from Daiichi, and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim.

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This article does not contain any previously unpublished data from human or animal studies.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Macrovascular Complications in Diabetes

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Herbst, R., Bolton, W., Shariff, A. et al. Cardiovascular Outcome Trial Update in Diabetes: New Evidence, Remaining Questions. Curr Diab Rep 17, 67 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0898-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0898-8

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