Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of developing adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. The evidence relating to the effects of glucose-lowering medications on CV outcomes is of variable quality and there are numerous trials ongoing.
Results: In this review, we summarise the available literature on CV outcomes of the following diabetes treatments: metformin, the sulfonylureas, acarbose, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and insulin.
Conclusions: Insulin is required if glucose levels are very high. Otherwise, metformin, acarbose, some GLP1 receptor agonists and one SGLT2i appear beneficial for CV outcomes.
Keywords: DPP4 inhibitors; Major adverse cardiovascular events; Metformin; SGLT2 inhibitors; Type 2 diabetes.
Copyright © 2017 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.