Diabetes and cardiovascular risk: are dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors beneficial?

Patricia A Howard1

  • 1Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas Medical Center , Mailstop 4047, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160; phone: 913-588-5391; fax: 913-588-2355 ;

Hospital Pharmacy
|December 6, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Diabetic cardiovascular disease risk reduction is unclear. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, or gliptins, are being studied for their cardiovascular effects in patients with diabetes.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in diabetic patients.
  • The impact of glycemic control on macrovascular risk in diabetes is not well understood.
  • Existing glucose-lowering drugs have not consistently shown cardiovascular risk reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.
  • To clarify the role of DPP-4 inhibitors in mitigating macrovascular complications in diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical trials investigating DPP-4 inhibitors.
  • Analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with gliptins.

Main Results:

  • Evidence regarding the macrovascular risk reduction associated with DPP-4 inhibitors is still emerging.
  • Some glucose-lowering medications have been linked to adverse cardiovascular events.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is needed to establish the cardiovascular safety and efficacy of DPP-4 inhibitors in diabetic populations.
  • The role of gliptins in managing cardiovascular risk in diabetes requires continued investigation.

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