Diabetes, obesity & metabolism

Sex differences in participation and heart benefits of new blood sugar drugs in people with and without type 2 diabetes

Updated

Abstract

Essence

SGLT2 inhibitors and showed broadly similar cardiovascular and kidney benefits in men and women, despite lower female trial representation.

Evidence

A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of 47 articles from 25 cardiovascular outcome trials including more than 185000 participants pooled sex-specific hazard ratios through August 2025.

Caveat

Women made up only about one-third of participants, and formal interaction tests did not show statistically significant sex differences despite some signals appearing slightly greater in women.

Simplified

Key numbers

32 238 of 90 413
Women Representation in Trials
Women accounted for 35.7% of participants in SGLT-2 trials.
0.87
Risk Reduction with SGLT-2is
Hazard ratio for in men with T2D receiving SGLT-2is.
0.89
Risk Reduction with GLP-1RAs
Hazard ratio for in men with T2D receiving GLP-1RAs.

Full Text

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