Study Finds Diabetes Medication Reduces Risk Of Death And Heart Disease In People With Arthritis
August 12, 2024 (Vancouver) A study conducted by Arthritis Research Canada has revealed that certain diabetes medications, specifically glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) like semaglutide (Ozempic), reduced the risk of death and heart attacks in people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus, who also have type 2 diabetes.
People living with these autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk of heart problems due to the chronic inflammation associated with these diseases. When combined with cardiac risk factors like type 2 diabetes and obesity—both of which involve ongoing low-level inflammation—these risks increase even further.
While GLP-1-RAs have been shown to lower the risk of serious heart and stroke complications in the general population with type 2 diabetes, their effects on individuals with autoimmune diseases have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to compare the impacts of starting GLP-1-RAs versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), like linagliptin (Tradjenta) on the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death among patients with various autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers used administrative health data from British Columbia to analyze a group of patients aged 18 and older with various autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes who initiated either GLP-1-RAs or DPP-4is between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021. The study found that those who started on GLP-1-RAs had a lower risk of all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those who started on DPP-4is. These findings were similar among people without the included autoimmune diseases.
“These findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists may offer a critical advantage in managing diabetes and cardiovascular risk in patients with inflammatory arthritis,” said Antonio Aviña-Zubieta, Senior Scientist at Arthritis Research Canada and Principal Investigator in this study. “Given the increased risk of heart disease in this population, the study highlights the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists as a preferred treatment option for diabetes, paving the way for improved health outcomes and longevity.”
For more details on this study click here.
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