Effectiveness of different anti-diabetic medications in managing cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis

 Background: Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent metabolic disorder associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Managing these cardiovascular outcomes is critical, and various anti-diabetic medications are used for this purpose. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of different anti-diabetic drugs in reducing cardiovascular risks in patients with type 2 diabetes.   Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted using data from 850 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing the impact of different classes of anti-diabetic medications, such as SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and DPP-4 inhibitors, on cardiovascular outcomes. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.   Results: The pooled data indicated that SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists showed a significant reduction in MACE compared to other anti-diabetic medications. SGLT- 2 inhibitors were associated with a 25% reduction in heart failure hospitalization, while GLP- 1 receptor agonists were linked to a 15% decrease in stroke incidence. DPP-4 inhibitors had no significant impact on cardiovascular outcomes.   Conclusion: The analysis suggests that SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists are more effective in managing cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes compared   to DPP-4 inhibitors. These findings support the preferential use of these medications for cardiovascular risk reduction in this patient population.