The Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Reducing Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Association between underweight and risk of heart failure in diabetes patients

BACKGROUND

The risk of heart failure (HF) in underweight diabetes mellitus (DM) patients has rarely been studied. We conducted a cohort study to investigate the association between underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and BMI change over time and the risk of HF in patients with type 2 DM.

METHODS

We utilized the health screening data from the National Health Insurance Service and the Korean National Health Screening database from 2009 to 2012, with follow-up until December 2018. Participants with DM were categorized into four groups based on their BMI at 4 years before study inclusion and BMI at the study entry: (1) Always Normal Weight (BMI at 4 years ago/BMI at study entry ≥18.5/≥18.5 kg/m2, reference group); (2) Transitioned to Underweight (≥18.5/<18.5 kg/m2); (3) Transitioned to Normal Weight (<18.5/≥18.5 kg/m2) and (4) Always Underweight (<18.5/<18.5 kg/m2). Participants were followed until the development of HF or at the end of the follow-up. Initial screening data included participants with DM who had the health screening during the study period (n = 2,746,079). Participants aged <20 years (n = 390), those who did not undergo health examination 4 years prior (n = 1,306,520), and those with missing data (n = 77,410) were excluded. Participants diagnosed with HF before study participation (n = 81,645) and within 1 year of study enrolment (n = 11,731) were excluded. After applying exclusion criteria, 1,268,383 participants were finally included in the analysis. The primary outcome was the development of HF. We employed Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for various confounding factors, to assess the risk of developing HF.

RESULTS

Median follow-up duration was 6.88 years and men were 63.16%. The mean ages of each groups were as follows: Always Normal Weight (57.92 ± 11.64 years), Transitioned to Underweight (62 ± 13.5 years), Transitioned to Normal Weight (56.6 ± 15.29 years) and Always Underweight (57.76 ± 15.35 years). In comparison with the Always Normal Weight group (n = 1,245,381, HF = 76,360), Transitioned to Underweight group (≥18.5/<18.5 kg/m2, n = 9304, HF = 880, adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR)1.389, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-1.485) or Transitioned to Normal Weight (<18.5/≥18.5 kg/m2, n = 6024, HF = 478, aHR 1.385, 95% CI 1.266-1.515) exhibited an increased risk of HF. The highest risk was observed in the Always Underweight group (<18.5/<18.5 kg/m2, n = 7674, HF = 665, aHR 1.612, 95% CI 1.493-1.740).

CONCLUSIONS

Underweight was significantly associated with the risk of HF in the DM population. Active surveillance for HF in an underweight DM population is needed.

Switch to gliflozins and biventricular function improvement in patients with chronic heart failure and diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce hospitalisation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The cardioprotective mechanisms of gliflozins however have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on right and left ventricular function in patients with diabetes and HF.

METHODS

Seventy-eight patients with diabetes and CHF were enroled in the study and followed up; 38 started treatment with SGLT2i, while the remaining 40 continued their previous antidiabetic therapy. All patients underwent conventional, TDI and strain echocardiography in an ambulatory setting, at the beginning and after 3 months of therapy with SGLT2i.

RESULTS

After 3 months of therapy with SGLT2i, echocardiographic parameters assessing both left and right ventricular dimensions and function were found as significantly improved in patients switching to SGLT2i than control group: LVEF (45 ± 9% vs. 40 ± 8%, p < 0.001), LVEDD (54 ± 6.5 vs. 56 ± 6.5 mm, p < 0.01), GLS (-13 ± 4% vs. -10 ± 3%, p < 0.001), TAPSE (21 ± 3 vs. 19 ± 3 mm, p < 0.001), RV S' (12.9 ± 2.5 vs 11.0 ± 1.9 cm/sec, p < 0.001) and PAsP (24 ± 8 vs. 31 ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.001). Also mitral (1.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.01) and tricuspid regurgitation (1.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5, p < 0.01) improved after SGLT2i therapy. Changes were not statistically significant in patients not treated with SGLT2i (p n.s. in all cases).

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world scenario, treatment with SGLT2i in patients with CHF and diabetes is associated with an improvement in both left and right ventricular function assessed at echocardiography. These data may explain potential anti-remodelling effects of gliflozins.

Effects of Incretin-Based Treatment on the Diastolic (Dys)Function in Patients with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Study with 1-Year Follow-Up

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) is a subclinical cardiac abnormality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that can progress to heart failure (HF) and increase cardiovascular risk. This prospective study evaluated the DD in T2DM patients without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease after one year of incretin-based drugs added to standard treatment. Of the 138 enrolled patients (49.30% male, mean age 57.86 ± 8.82, mean T2DM history 5 years), 71 were started on dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin/saxagliptin, 21 on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exenatide, and 46 formed the control group (metformin and sulphonylurea/acarbose). At baseline, 71 patients had grade 1 DD, another 12 had grade 2 and 3 DD, and 15 had indeterminate DD. After one year, DD was evidenced in 50 cases. Diastolic function improved in 9 cases, and 27 patients went from grade 1 to indeterminate DD. The active group benefited more, especially patients treated with exenatide; their metabolic and inflammation profiles also improved the most. An in-depth analysis of echocardiographic parameters and paraclinical results in the context of literature data justifies the conclusion that early assessment of diastolic function in T2DM patients is necessary and the benefits of affordable incretin-based treatment may extend to subclinical cardiovascular manifestations such as DD.

Rationale and design of the Biventricular Evaluation of Gliflozins effects In chroNic Heart Failure: BEGIN-HF study

AIMS

Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) represent a unique class of anti-hyperglycaemic agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus that selectively inhibit renal glucose reabsorption, thereby increasing urinary excretion of glucose. Several studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective effects of SGLT-2i in patients with heart failure (HF), unrelated to its glucosuric effect. It is unclear whether the benefits of SGLT-2i therapy also rely on the improvement of left ventricular (LV) and/or right ventricular (RV) function in patients with HF. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SGLT-2i on LV and RV function through conventional and advanced echocardiographic parameters with a special focus on RV function in patients with HF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Biventricular Evaluation of Gliflozins effects In chroNic Heart Failure (BEGIN-HF) study is an international multicentre, prospective study that will evaluate the effect of SGLT-2i on echocardiographic parameters of myocardial function in patients with chronic stable HF across the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) spectrum. Patients with New York Heart Association Class II/III symptoms, estimated glomerular filtration rate > 25 mL/min/1.73 m² , age > 18 years, and those who were not previously treated with SGLT-2i will be included. All patients will undergo conventional, tissue-derived imaging (TDI), and strain echocardiography in an ambulatory setting, at time of enrolment and after 6 months of SGLT-2i therapy. The primary endpoint is the change in LV function as assessed by conventional, TDI, and myocardial deformation speckle tracking parameters. Secondary outcomes include changes in RV and left atrial function as assessed by conventional and deformation speckle tracking echocardiography. Univariate and multivariate analyses will be performed to identify predictors associated with primary and secondary endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

The BEGIN-HF will determine whether SGLT-2i therapy improves LV and/or RV function by conventional and advanced echocardiography in patients with HF irrespective of LVEF.

Improvement of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain after 6-Month Therapy with GLP-1RAs Semaglutide and Dulaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study

(1) Background: Glucagone-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (GLP-1 RAs) are incretine-based medications recommended in the treatment of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or high or very high cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, knowledge of the direct mechanism of GLP-1 RAs on cardiac function is modest and not yet fully elucidated. Left ventricular (LV) Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) with Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) represents an innovative technique for the evaluation of myocardial contractility. (2) Methods: an observational, perspective, monocentric study was conducted in a cohort of 22 consecutive patients with DM2 and ASCVD or high/very high CV risk, enrolled between December 2019 and March 2020 and treated with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide. The echocardiographic parameters of diastolic and systolic function were recorded at baseline and after six months of treatment. (3) Results: the mean age of the sample was 65 ± 10 years with a prevalence of the male sex (64%). A significant improvement in the LV GLS (mean difference: -1.4 ± 1.1%; p value < 0.001) was observed after six months of treatment with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide. No relevant changes were seen in the other echocardiographic parameters. (4) Conclusions: six months of treatment with GLP-1 RAs dulaglutide or semaglutide leads to an improvement in the LV GLS in subjects with DM2 with and high/very high risk for ASCVD or with ASCVD. Further studies on larger populations and with a longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.

Posing the rationale for synthetic lipoxin mimetics as an adjuvant treatment to gold standard atherosclerosis therapies

Atherosclerosis is a progressive, multifactorial inflammatory, and dyslipidaemic disease, responsible for the majority of cardiovascular diseases globally. The chronic inflammation is the main driver of the initiation and progression of such disease, as a result of an imbalanced lipid metabolism and an ineffective immune response to attenuate the inflammatory component. The importance of inflammation resolution is being increasingly recognised in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It has a complex mechanism consisting of multiple stages, including restoring an effective removal of apoptotic bodies (efferocytosis) and their degradation (effero-metabolism), a macrophage phenotype switching towards resolving phenotypes, and the promotion of tissue healing and regeneration. The low-grade inflammation associated with atherosclerosis development is a driving force in disease exacerbation, and hence inflammation resolution is a key area of research. In this review, we explore the complex disease pathogenesis and its many contributing factors to gain a greater understanding of the disease and identify the current and potential therapeutic targets. First-line treatments and their efficacy will also be discussed in detail, to highlight the emerging field of resolution pharmacology. Despite the great efforts made by current gold-standard treatments, such as lipid-lowering and glucose-lowering drugs, they remain ineffective at tackling residual inflammatory risk and residual cholesterol risk. Resolution pharmacology represents a new era of atherosclerosis therapy, as endogenous ligands associated with inflammation resolution are exploited for their pharmacological benefits in a more potent and longer-acting manner. Novel FPR2-agonists, such as synthetic lipoxin analogues, provide an exciting new approach to enhance the pro-resolving response of the immune system and subsequently end the pro-inflammatory response to allow for an anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving environment for tissue healing, regeneration, and return to homeostasis.

Role of moesin in the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 on advanced glycation end products-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues have been found to exert protective effect on endothelial barrier dysfunction in vascular diseases. Moesin phosphorylation participates in the process of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induced disruption of endothelial barrier integrity. Whether and how GLP-1 modulating moesin phosphorylation in endothelium under diabetic condition needs further clarification. Consistent with previous studies, our data showed that hyperglycemia and AGEs promoted moesin phosphorylation in ECs in vivo and vitro experiments. With or without AGEs incubation, overexpression of moesin and activated mutant moesin T558D increased ECs permeability, whereas knockdown of moesin decreased ECs permeability. Inhibition of Rho/ROCK, p38/MAPK and PKC β signal pathways also decreased moesin phosphorylation in ECs incubated with AGEs. Importantly, GLP-1 inhibited moesin phosphorylation in AGE-induced ECs in a dose-dependent manner. Intriguingly, the effects of GLP-1 elicited on moesin phosphorylation in ECs under diabetic condition were blunted by inhibition of cAMP/PKA and stimulation of Rho/ROCK, p38 and PKC β signaling pathways. Therefore, this study verified that the stabilizing effect of GLP-1 on the moesin phosphorylation mediated endothelial barrier function is mediated by GLP-1R/cAMP/PKA activation and subsequent down-regulation of Rho/ROCK, p38 and PKC β signaling pathways.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor therapy: mechanisms of action in heart failure

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of developing heart failure compared with the healthy population. In recent landmark clinical trials, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor therapies improve blood glucose control and also reduce cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalisations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Intriguingly, such clinical benefits have also been seen in patients with heart failure in the absence of type 2 diabetes although the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood. Potential pathways include improved glycaemic control, diuresis, weight reduction and reduction in blood pressure, but none fully explain the observed improvements in clinical outcomes. More recently, novel mechanisms have been proposed to explain these benefits that include improved cardiomyocyte calcium handling, enhanced myocardial energetics, induced autophagy and reduced epicardial fat. We provide an up-to-date review of cardiac-specific SGLT2 inhibitor-mediated mechanisms and highlight studies currently underway investigating some of the proposed mechanisms of action in cardiovascular health and disease.

Effectiveness of liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in a real-world setting without intensive lifestyle intervention

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 3 mg daily in combination with diet and exercise 2, 4, and 6 months after initiation in real-world settings in Korea.

METHODS

People first using liraglutide starting in 2018 were recruited from ten sites in Korea. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were measured after 2, 4, and 6 months and compared with baseline values.

RESULTS

The full cohort comprised 769 participants: 672 in the 2-month group, 427 in the 4-month group, and 219 in the 6-month group. The baseline mean ± standard deviation of BMI and body weight were 32.2 ± 5.1 kg/m², and 87.5 ± 18.8 kg, respectively. Body weight and BMI decreased after initiation of liraglutide treatment: -2.94 kg and -1.08 kg/m² at 2 months; -4.23 kg and -1.55 kg/m² at 4 months, and -5.14 kg and -1.89 kg/m² at 6 months (all P < 0.001). In the 6-month cohort, 52.5% and 18.3% of subjects lost ≥5% and ≥10% of body weight, respectively. After 6 months, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly by 3.90 and 1.93 mmHg, respectively. In those with diabetes mellitus, HbA1c and fasting glucose levels decreased significantly by 1.14% and 27.8 mg/dl, respectively. Among all participants, 27.6% experienced adverse effects, including nausea (20.8%), vomiting (5.2%), diarrhoea (2.5%), and skin rash (3.6%). Documented reasons for discontinuation of treatment were lack of effect (4.4%), adverse events (4.3%), and high cost (3.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

In real-world settings in Korea, daily treatment with liraglutide 3 mg was associated with clinically meaningful weight loss without serious adverse events.

Comparative Efficacy of Lobeglitazone Versus Pioglitazone on Albuminuria in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of lobeglitazone on albuminuria at 24 weeks of follow-up in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with pioglitazone using data from a randomized, double-blinded phase III trial.

METHODS

In the phase III trial, patients who were inadequately controlled with metformin received 0.5 mg of lobeglitazone or 15 mg of pioglitazone for 24 weeks. Post hoc, exploratory analysis was used to investigate mean changes from baseline in the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) between the lobeglitazone (N = 104) and pioglitazone (N = 101) treatment groups.

RESULTS

After 24 weeks of treatment, UACR was slightly decreased in the lobeglitazone group (- 4.3 mg/g creatinine [Cr]) compared to baseline and slightly increased in the pioglitazone group (5.2 mg/g Cr), with no change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate in either group; this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.476). The incidence of new-onset microalbuminuria (2.4%) and the progression of albuminuria by > 1 stage (2.9%) in the lobeglitazone group were lower than the respective values in the pioglitazone group (6.8 and 6.1%, respectively). Of the patients in the lobeglitazone group, 50% exhibited regression to normoalbuminuria, compared to 39.3% of the patients in the pioglitazone. In subjects in the lobeglitazone group with micro- and macroalbuminuria, UACR tended to be more decreased and HbA1c was more reduced compared to those with normoalbuminuria (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Lobeglitazone had a tendency to improve albuminuria in patients with T2DM and had comparable effects on albuminuria as pioglitazone which has demonstrated beneficial effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01106131.

Beneficial effect of anti-diabetic drugs for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder and is associated with various metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. There are no approved drugs for NAFLD, and the only approved treatment option is weight reduction. As insulin resistance plays an important role in the development of NAFLD, many anti-diabetic drugs have been evaluated for the treatment of NAFLD. Improvement of liver enzymes has been demonstrated by many anti-diabetic drugs, but histological assessment still remains insufficient. Pioglitazone could become the first-line therapy for T2DM patients with NAFLD, based on evidence of histological improvement in patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liraglutide, another promising alternative, is not yet recommended in patients with NAFLD/NASH due to limited evidence. Therefore, well-designed randomized controlled trials should be performed in the near future to demonstrate if and how anti-diabetic drugs can play a role in the treatment of NAFLD.

Effects of antidiabetic drugs on left ventricular function/dysfunction: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although a variety of antidiabetic drugs have significant protective action on the cardiovascular system, it is still unclear which antidiabetic drugs can improve ventricular remodeling and fundamentally delay the process of heart failure. The purpose of this network meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of sodium glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, metformin (MET), sulfonylurea (SU) and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) in improving left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

We searched articles published before October 18, 2019, regardless of language or data, in 4 electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. We included randomized controlled trials in this network meta-analysis, as well as a small number of cohort studies. The differences in the mean changes in left ventricular echocardiographic parameters between the treatment group and control group were evaluated.

RESULTS

The difference in the mean change in LV ejection fraction (LVEF) between GLP-1 agonists and placebo in treatment effect was greater than zero (MD = 2.04% [0.64%, 3.43%]); similar results were observed for the difference in the mean change in LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) between SGLT-2 inhibitors and placebo (MD = - 3.3 mm [5.31, - 5.29]), the difference in the mean change in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) between GLP-1 agonists and placebo (MD = - 4.39 ml [- 8.09, - 0.7]); the difference in the mean change in E/e' between GLP-1 agonists and placebo (MD = - 1.05[- 1.78, - 0.32]); and the difference in the mean change in E/e' between SGLT-2 inhibitors and placebo (MD = - 1.91[- 3.39, - 0.43]).

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1 agonists are more significantly associated with improved LVEF, LVESV and E/e', SGLT-2 inhibitors are more significantly associated with improved LVEDD and E/e', and DPP-4 inhibitors are more strongly associated with a negative impact on LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) than are placebos. SGLT-2 inhibitors are superior to other drugs in pairwise comparisons.

Benefit-Risk Assessment of Alogliptin for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) alogliptin is an oral, antidiabetic treatment that is approved in many countries to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including the USA, Europe, and Japan. Alogliptin is efficacious both as monotherapy and as add-on/combination therapy with other commonly prescribed T2DM treatments, such as metformin and pioglitazone. Overall, alogliptin is well-tolerated in patients with T2DM, including older patients, those with renal and/or hepatic impairment, and those at high risk of cardiovascular events. There is a low risk of hypoglycemia, weight gain, acute pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal adverse events with alogliptin treatment, as demonstrated in long-term trials (lasting up to 4.5 years) and in a real-world setting. Additionally, alogliptin has a generally favorable or similar safety profile in comparison to other antidiabetic agents (metformin, thiazolidinediones, sulfonylureas, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, α-glucosidase inhibitors, and insulin). However, further evaluation would be required to determine the mechanism and effect of alogliptin on heart failure, bullous pemphigoid, and inflammatory bowel disease. Of note, due to the ethnic diversity in the epidemiology of T2DM, alogliptin has been shown to be more efficacious in Asian patients than in non-Asian patients with T2DM, but with a similar tolerability profile. These data indicate that DPP-4is, including alogliptin, are important treatment options, especially for Asian patients with T2DM, for whom they have potential as a first-line therapy. This benefit-risk assessment aims to place alogliptin within the current armamentarium of T2DM and aid physicians when choosing optimal diabetes treatment for their patients.