Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Renal and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study

TL;DR

This study shows that GLP-1 receptor agonists help lower blood sugar and weight in Type 2 diabetes patients over 12 months, but do not significantly affect kidney or cardiovascular risk factors.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the effects of GLP-1RAs in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Type 2 diabetes patients in a regional Australian setting.

Findings

GLP-1RA use significantly reduced HbA1c levels over 12 months.

Significant weight loss was observed in patients using GLP-1RAs.

No significant changes were found in lipid profiles, UACR, or eGFR.

Abstract

This research explores the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) on key risk factors associated with kidney and cardiovascular diseases in Indigenous (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) and non-Indigenous adults living with Type 2 diabetes, receiving care at a regional health facility in North Queensland, Australia.

This retrospective study included patients who attended the diabetes clinic at a regional hospital between January 2016 and January 2020. Data was extracted from electronic medical records. Basic demographic characteristics along with blood pressure, body weight, BMI, urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), HbA1c, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels were retrieved from initial presentation, 6 months, and 12 months post. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 28 with appropriate statistical tests applied.

The study involved a total of 164 patients. GLP-1RA use resulted in a significant reduction of HbA1c between 0 and 6 months (8.7%–7.9%, p < 0.01) and 0 and 12 months (8.7%–8.1%, p < 0.01). Significant reduction in weight between 0 and 6 months (115.9–114.0 kg, p < 0.001), 6 and 12 months (114.0–112.5 kg, p = 0.004), and 0 and 12 months (115.9–112.5 kg, p < 0.001) was also seen. However, there were no statistically significant differences in all measures of lipid profile and no significant changes in UACR and eGFR.

This study affirms the effectiveness of GLP-1RAs as a glycemic control agent with an additional benefit of weight reduction across a 12-month period in adult T2DM patients. No effect on other cardiovascular parameters apart from weight or renal risk factors was observed. Further investigation into the influence of GLP-1RAs on these would be beneficial.

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