Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are so called “incretin-based therapies” (IBTs) that represent innovative therapeutic approaches and are commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have provided useful information that has helped to shape changes in clinical practice guidelines for the management of T2DM. At the same time, the mechanisms that may explain the nonglycemic and cardiovascular (CV) benefits of these medications are still being explored. A summary of the main findings from CVOTs performed to-date with particular emphasis on various outcomes and inconsistencies observed in the trials is provided. Overall, available data is favourable to the early deployment of GLP-1RAs in clinical practice, fully in line with recommendations from international scientific guidelines, and based on their effects on glucose metabolism parameters, body weight reduction and CV outcomes. Evidence further suggest that the CV benefits of GLP-1RAs may not be a class effect, with GLP-1 analogues having a greater benefit rather than exendin-based agents.

胰高血糖素样肽1受体激动剂（GLP-1RA）和二肽基肽酶4（DPP-4）抑制剂被称为“基于肠降血糖素的疗法”（IBT），代表了创新的治疗方法，通常在临床实践中用于治疗2型糖尿病（T2DM）。心血管结果试验（CVOT）提供了有用的信息，这些信息有助于塑造T2DM管理的临床实践指南中的变化。同时，仍在探索可能解释这些药物的非血糖和心血管（CV）益处的机制。提供了迄今为止进行的CVOT的主要发现的摘要，特别着重于试验中观察到的各种结果和不一致之处。总体，现有数据有利于GLP-1RA在临床实践中的早期部署，完全符合国际科学指南的建议，并基于它们对葡萄糖代谢参数，体重减轻和CV结果的影响。有证据进一步表明，GLP-1RA的CV益处可能不是分类效应，GLP-1类似物比基于exendin的药物具有更大的益处。