Condition evidence map
Cardiovascular risk
Research evidence map for cardiovascular outcomes with incretin medicines: SELECT, SURPASS-CVOT, LEADER, SUSTAIN-6, REWIND, SUMMIT and the FLOW kidney-outcome trial.
Research context
Cardiovascular outcome trials in incretin medicines have rewritten the trajectory of obesity and T2D pharmacology. SELECT showed semaglutide reduces MACE in adults with overweight or obesity and pre-existing CVD without diabetes. LEADER and SUSTAIN-6 established CV benefit for liraglutide and semaglutide in T2D. SURPASS-CVOT compared tirzepatide with dulaglutide in T2D and ASCVD.
Why this matters metabolically
Cardiovascular events are the dominant cause of mortality in T2D and severe obesity. Pharmacological intervention that reduces MACE while reducing weight or glycaemia integrates two of the largest preventable contributors to all-cause mortality.
FAQs
- Does GLP-1 receptor agonism reduce cardiovascular events?
- Outcome-trial evidence supports CV benefit for liraglutide (LEADER), semaglutide (SUSTAIN-6 in T2D; SELECT in obesity + CVD), and dulaglutide (REWIND). Benefit is established trial-by-trial in defined populations; class-wide claims should be made with care.
- CV benefit in one trial population does not transfer automatically to another.
- CV benefit for one molecule does not transfer to another in the same class without direct evidence.
- Weight reduction does not by itself prove CV outcome benefit.
Related mechanisms
Related peptide profiles
Related trials
Related safety signals
Related conditions
Sources are tagged by class. Regulatory documents, peer-reviewed publications and trial registry records are preferred. Manufacturer disclosures and conference material are accepted where peer-reviewed publication is not yet available; preprints are flagged.
- Peer-reviewed publicationLincoff AM et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes (SELECT). N Engl J Med 2023.
- Peer-reviewed publicationMarso SP et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER). N Engl J Med 2016.
- Peer-reviewed publicationGerstein HC et al. Dulaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (REWIND). Lancet 2019.
- Regulatory document (MHRA/EMA/FDA)MHRA — Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
UK regulatory authority for medicines and medical devices
- Regulatory document (MHRA/EMA/FDA)NICE — National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NICE guidance on treatment pathways for metabolic conditions
- Editorial synthesisSite editorial synthesis — Metabolic Peptides
Editorial summary of condition profiles on this site