Cardiovascular risk reduction with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists is proportional to HbA1c lowering in type 2 diabetes: An updated meta‐regression analysis incorporating FLOW and SOUL trials
Pooled result · MACEResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.86 95% CI 0.82–0.91Authors' conclusion
HbA1c reduction, not bodyweight change, was significantly and proportionally associated with MACE risk reduction. HbA1c lowering may serve as a useful surrogate for the cardiovascular improvements associated with GLP-1RAs in type 2 diabetes.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with T2D in placebo-controlled RCTs of GLP-1 RA reporting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (PubMed and EMBASE to 22 August 2025)
- Participants
- 73,263 adults10 trials
- Comparison
- GLP-1 RA vs placebo
- Outcome
- MACE
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis
- Random-effects meta-analysis
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
0.86
95% CI 0.82–0.91
P < 0.001
GLP-1RAsvs Placebo
HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.82–0.91); P < 0.001
- Meta-regression: every 1% extra HbA1c reduction corresponded to a 27% lower HR for MACE (p = 0.015)
- R2 = 0.61
- Meta-regression: bodyweight change not associated with MACE (p = 0.13)
- R2 = 0.21
Further pooled results
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Hospitalisation for HF and composite kidney outcomeReduced with GLP-1RAs | both p <0.001 |
Hospitalisation for heart failure (HF) and composite kidney outcome
- HbA1c reduction not significantly associated with secondary outcomes; directionality consistent with MACE
- Bodyweight change not associated with any analysed endpoint
Original publication
Cardiovascular risk reduction with glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists is proportional to HbA1c lowering in type 2 diabetes: An updated meta‐regression analysis incorporating FLOW and SOUL trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 9 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →