Liraglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Liraglutide has been widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), however, the results of a number of randomized placebo-controlled trials on the effects of liraglutide for the treatment of T2DM have varied. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of liraglutide versus placebo for the treatment of T2DM.


METHODS
We searched randomized controlled trials comparing liraglutide and placebo for the treatment of T2DM in the following databases: MEDLINE; EMBASE; Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials; and Clinical Trials Gov (through August 2014). The standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated for the continuous data and a χ (2) test was used to evaluate heterogeneity.


RESULTS
Initially, 103 articles were retrieved through the literature search and 11 studies met the requirements for the meta-analysis. The effects of liraglutide on lowering glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, reducing weight, lowering blood pressure, and the prevalence of adverse events were significantly different from placebo (P < 0.0001, SMD = -0.96, 95% CI = [-1.20, -0.73]; P < 0.0001, SMD = -0.72, 95% CI = [-0.99, -0.45]; P = 0.004, SMD = -0.24, 95% CI = [-0.40, -0.07]; P = 0.021, SMD = -0.15, 95% CI = [-0.27, -0.02], and P = 0.007, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Liraglutide had greater hypoglycemic, weight-reducing and systolic blood pressure-lowering effects than placebo. However, there were more adverse events in the treatment with liraglutide. It is suggested that additional well-designed, large, studies be conducted to further support the use of liraglutide and provide objective guidance for clinical application of liraglutide.
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China, kobe9903@sina.com.
Qiang
Q
Du
Yan-Jun
YJ
Wang
Sheng
S
Yang
Yue-Yang
YY
Zhao
Ping
P
Han
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000067758:Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Receptor / Q000819:agonists*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069450:Liraglutide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000067758:Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Receptor; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000069450:Liraglutide