Cardioprotective effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of comparative safety and efficacy.

Background: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are recommended for the treatment of heart failure due to their cardioprotective effects, despite primarily being used as antidiabetic medications. However, the comparative profile of two antidiabetic drugs, sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor remains unclear.

Study hypothesis: This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy profiles of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor drugs.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov using appropriate Medical Subject Headings terms from inception until February 23, 2023. The outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model for hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Twelve studies were included after systematic screening, with a sample size of 745,688 for sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and 769,386 for dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor. The mean age in each group was 61.1 (8.52) and 61.28 (9.25) years, respectively. Upon pooling the included articles with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, the primary outcome of all-cause death demonstrated an hazard ratio of 0.64 (0.57, 0.70), I ²: 65.54%, p < 0.001, and major adverse cardiovascular events yielded an hazard ratio of 0.76 (0.65, 0.86), I ²: 87.83%, p < 0.001. The secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction with an hazard ratio of 0.84 (0.78, 0.90), I ²: 47.64%, p < 0.001, stroke with an hazard ratio of 0.81 (0.75, 0.87), I ²: 36.78%, p < 0.001, and hospitalization with an hazard ratio of 0.62 (0.53, 0.70), I ²: 83.32%, p < 0.001.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that compared to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, initiating treatment with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors provides cardiovascular disease protection and may be considered in patients with type 2 diabetes.