Science Letters

Cardiovascular Effect of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor in Diabetic Patients: A Review

Sharvan Rampersad, Manna Zhang, Hong Li, Shen Qu*

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus has taken pandemic proportions, with an increased morbidity and associated mortality, prompting the development of new drugs for better glycemic control. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4-i) is a relatively new drug. However, following the incident with rosiglitazone, it has become mandatory for any new anti-diabetic drug to be thoroughly tested for adverse cardiovascular effects. We conducted this review to better understand the cardiovascular effects of this drug. Studies selected for the review using different search tools were mainly randomized controlled trials. Most of the trials concluded in either a non-inferior or neutral cardiovascular effects when compared against a comparator. Moreover, beneficial effects on markers affecting the cardiovascular health have also been reported. However, two studies reported adverse effect; one on the flow mediated vasodilatation and one on the frequency of hospitalization for heart failure. Although these two studies reported adverse effects, other studies examining the same parameters reported either neutral or beneficial effects. Moreover, the increased hospitalization for heart failure may be due to a single drug and not a drug-class effect. Hence, we can conclude that use of DPP4-i, except for one, has a neutral cardiovascular effect.

Keywords Cardiovascular health, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, heart failure hospitalization, major adverse cardiac event, saxagliptin, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Received July 02, 2016 Accepted November 04, 2016 Abstract Published December 01, 2016 Manuscript Published December 15, 2016

*Corresponding author Shen Qu E-mail qushencn@hotmail.com