Beyond glycemic control: cardiovascular effects of incretin-based therapies

As cardiovascular (CV) disease remains the major cause of mortality and morbidity in type 2 diabetes mellitus, reducing macrovascular complications has been a major target of antiglycemic therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that incretin-based therapies are safe and may provide CV and cerebrovascular (CBV) benefits beyond those attributable to glycemic control, making the class an attractive therapeutic option. However, the mechanisms whereby the various classes of incretin-based therapies exert CV and CBV benefits may be distinct and may not necessarily lead to similar outcomes. In this chapter, we will discuss the potential mechanisms and current understanding of CV and CBV benefits of native glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, GLP-1 receptor agonists and analogues, and of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor therapies as a means to better understand differences in safety and efficacy.