AIM: To assess the effect of all the approved classes of medications for type 2 diabetes on Major Adverse Cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality.

METHODS: We performed a pairwise and network meta-analysis, including randomised controlled trials with a duration of at least 40 weeks, comparing medications versus placebo or an active comparator, in which MACE and deaths were adjudicated.

RESULTS: We included 93 studies. In pairwise meta-analyses, versus all comparators, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA), SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), metformin and pioglitazone were associated with a significant reduction of MACE and sulfonylureas with increased MACE. Furthermore, tirzepatide, SGLT2i and GLP1RA were associated with a significantly reduced all-cause mortality. In the principal (frequentist) network meta-analysis, metformin (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.53-0.89), SGLT2i (0.82, 0.75-0.90), GLP1RA (0.87, 0.83-0.92) and tirzepatide (0.82, 0.72-0.93) were associated with a significant reduction of MACE versus placebo; no effect was observed for insulin, DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i) or sulfonylureas. Tirzepatide (0.72, 0.64-0.82), SGLT2i (0.85, 0.80-0.91) and GLP1RA (0.85, 0.80-0.91) were associated with a significantly reduced mortality versus placebo; no effect was detected for other drugs. The sensitivity (Bayesian) analysis did not confirm the significance of results for pioglitazone on MACE. The certainty of evidence was moderate-to-high for GLP1RA, SGLT2i, Tirzepatide, DPP4i; low for metformin; low-to-moderate for other drugs.

CONCLUSION: SGLT2i, GLP1RA, tirzepatide and (with lower quality of evidence) pioglitazone and metformin are associated with a reduced incidence of cardiovascular events; tirzepatide, SGLT2i and GLP1RA are also associated with a reduced all-cause mortality.

Endocrine rater

A very informative NMA that consolidates current knowledge regarding the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of different antidiabetic drug classes, aligning with current treatment recommendations from ADA and EASD.

Endocrine rater

This is useful evidence for the busy cardiovascular clinician taking care of patients with diabetes and CV disease.