Cardiovascular safety of oral antidiabetic therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus- review article

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). There is twofold increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality among diabetic patients as compared with nondiabetic patients. The glycemic efficacy of anti-diabetic drugs does not necessarily provide cardiovascular safety. Since 2008, US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that new drugs for type 2 DM should undergo clinical trials to demonstrate cardiovascular safety in addition to glycemic benefit. In 2012, European medicine agencies issued a similar recommendation. In this review, we have tried to examine the cardiovascular safety of oral antidiabetic agents in major published trials. Metformin remains the initial drug of choice in type2 DM till date. The sulfonylureas, one of oldest oral anti-diabetic drugs, have adverse cardiovascular events and are gradually being out classed by other second line drugs. The glitazones have been found to have adverse outcome in heart failure. The incretin based drugs have been found to have cardiovascular safety in various trials in recent past and their performances have been reassuring. There is lack of enough cardiovascular outcome data for meglitinides and glucosidase inhibitors. Various current trials have found sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors to have a potential for cardiovascular benefit. Careful selection of drug therapy with special attention for cardiovascular risk is important in selection and optimization of diabetic therapy.