Differences in Prevalence and Incidence of Electrocardiogram Abnormalities and Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy Among Randomized Glucose-Lowering Treatments in Early Type 2 Diabetes: The Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes (GRADE) Cohort
Authors' conclusion
ECG abnormalities, including those reflecting CAN, are common in individuals with T2D <10 years and more so in those with certain cardiovascular risk factors. The development of major ECG abnormalities may be lower with liraglutide.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with T2D <10 years taking metformin alone; mean age 57.2 ± 10.0 years, 36.3% women, mean diabetes duration 4.3 ± 2.8 years, mean HbA1c 7.5 ± 0.5%
- Participants
- 4,769 adults
- Comparison
- Insulin glargine vs glimepiride vs liraglutide vs sitagliptin added to metformin
- Primary endpoint
- Prevalence and incidence of ECG abnormalities and ECG-derived CAN
- Follow-up
- Baseline, 2 and 4 years
Methodological detailslogistic repeated-measures models adjusted for baseline risk factors
- Logistic repeated-measures models adjusted for baseline risk factors
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence and incidence of ECG abnormalities and CAN
Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities at baseline
57.1%
ECG-derived cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) at baseline
52.8%
Further findings
| Outcome | Liraglutide | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Major ECG abnormalities · year 4Liraglutide vs Nonliraglutide · fewer with liraglutide | 9% | P = 0.03 |
- Heart rate variability (HRV): SD of normal-to-normal R-R intervals · year 2 · Liraglutide vs Nonliraglutide · higher with liraglutide
- P = 0.02
- Major ECG abnormalities: Nonliraglutide 13%
Characteristics of participants with baseline ECG abnormalities and CAN
- Older and more severe cardiovascular risk factors
Original publication
Differences in Prevalence and Incidence of Electrocardiogram Abnormalities and Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy Among Randomized Glucose-Lowering Treatments in Early Type 2 Diabetes: The Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes (GRADE) Cohort. Diabetes Care. Published 23 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →