Two less-often prescribed type 2 diabetes drugs could lower the risk of heart disease by more than 50 per cent, new research suggests.
The study of English and Welsh data is published in the journal, Diabetes Care.
Medications for type 2 diabetes work in different ways to lower blood glucose levels.
The study looked at SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) – both newer types of medication.
The researchers compared the risk of serious heart or stroke problems in diabetes patients when using the new drugs verses more traditional therapies, such as metformin and sulphonylureas.
The research revealed that the risk of heart failure was 51 per cent lower for people using SGLT2 inhibitors, 18 per cent lower for GLP-1RAs users and 57 per cent lower for people using both drugs.
Meanwhile, the odds of a heart attack or stroke was 18 per cent lower for SGLT2 inhibitors, 7 per cent lower for GLP-1RAs and 30 per cent lower for them given in combination.
SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1RA therapies have been licensed since 2012 and 2005 respectively.
However, doctors routinely prescribe the more traditional treatments which have only neutral or modest effects on reducing risks to heart health.
Professor Martin Rutter is a researcher at The University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant Physician at the Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary.
He said:
“There are around 4 million people with type 2 diabetes in the UK, and sadly more than one in three of these people will die from cardiovascular disease.
“The good news is that SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1RA drugs not only control diabetes, but they also reduce the risk of developing serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
“And that could save thousands of lives every year – not to mention the avoidance of chronic illness in those who survive heart attacks and strokes.
“The protective effect of these two types of medication can be seen as soon as patients start to receive them – though the longer they take them, the greater the protection.”
The researchers concluded that that regular prescribing practices and the cost of the newer drugs may explain why the new drugs are not more frequently prescribed.
However, Lead author Dr Alison Wright, a statistician at The University of Manchester, noted that the drugs may prove to be more cost-effective.
Dr Wright said:
“While GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors are expensive treatments, we believe the cost-effectiveness of such treatment options in terms of primary prevention should be seriously examined.
“This is because 80 per cent of diabetes care costs are related to managing complications, with the largest contributor being cardiovascular disease.
“We believe these data make a strong case for trials evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these interventions and their combination in lower risk people with type 2 diabetes.”
Diabetes is the most common metabolic long-term condition in older people, according to the British Geriatrics Society.
The condition contributes to a high rate of disability, frequent hospital admissions and increased institutionalisation.
