Review of cardiovascular outcomes trials of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists

Purpose of review In recent years, there have been several cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOT) of two new classes of glucose-lowering medications: sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). It is important examine their potential for cardiovascular benefit and possible side effects among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus. Recent findings The current article reviews the findings of recent CVOT of SGLT2-i and GLP-1 RA, including their impact on cardiovascular events and relevant side effects. For all T2D patients, with or without established cardiovascular disease, the SGLT2-i have demonstrated impressive reductions in hospitalization for heart failure and renoprotection. For T2D patients with established cardiovascular disease, SGLT2-i demonstrated an additional benefit of reduced major adverse cardiac events, on top of reductions in hospitalizations for heart failure, renoprotection, and in some instances, mortality. Similarly, all GLP-1 RA CVOTs demonstrated noninferiority compared with placebo for safety. In comparison, GLP-1 RA appear to preferentially reduce ischemic events (stroke or myocardial infarction) over hospitalization for heart failure, and demonstrated renoprotection in several of the CVOTs.