Macrovascular complications, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), are the greatest contributors to the morbidity, mortality, and cost of diabetes mellitus. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the most important macrovascular complication, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its associated hyperglycemia are major risk factors for ASCVD.
Some antihyperglycemic therapies for T2D, including some sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have demonstrated benefit in CVD and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
GLP-1, a potent incretin hormone, enhances insulin and inhibits glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner; it also inhibits gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion and increases satiety. GLP-1 RAs mimic endogenous GLP-1 but have...