THE EFFECT OF ADD-ON THERAPY OF LIRAGLUTIDE AND EMPAGLIFLOZIN ON AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH POORLY CONTROLLED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: It is known that both liraglutide and empagliflozin, except for their anti-hyperglycaemic effect, have a favorable effect on major cardiovascular outcomes. Furthermore, it has been shown that they reduce systolic (SBP) and to a lesser extent diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of liraglutide and empagliflozin on ambulatory BP in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (T2D). Design and method: 42 patients [20 men, mean age (± SD): 60.6 ± 9.4 years, were randomized to liraglutide therapy. 32 patients (16 men, mean age: 64.8 ± 7.1 years), were randomized to empagliflozin therapy. All patients underwent a complete clinical examination, laboratory testing, and ambulatory BP recording on baseline and three months after initiation of treatment with liraglutide and empagliflozin. Ambulatory BP was measured with the oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph NGW 24-hour ambulatory BP and PWA monitor (IEM; Stolberg, Germany). Results: In the liraglutide group, daytime SBP and DBP, mean change from baseline was –4.0 mmHg (P = 0.26) and –3.6 mmHg (P = 0.05). Nighttime SBP and DBP, mean change from baseline was –8.9 mmHg (P = 0.009) and –5.6 mmHg (P = 0.009). In the empagliflozin group, for daytime SBP and DBP, mean change from baseline was –1.4 mmHg (P = 0.61) and 0.2 mmHg (P = 0.91), respectively. For nighttime SBP and DBP, mean change from baseline were –8.9 mmHg (P = 0.03) and –4.5 mmHg (P = 0.02), respectively. Liraglutide caused higher daytime SBP and DBP decline from baseline than empagliflozin (P = 0.005). No statistically significant differences were observed for nighttime SBP and DBP between the two study groups. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed a favorable effect of 3-month therapy with liraglutide had a favorable effect on daily DBP and SBP and DBP during the night. A favorable effect of 3-month therapy with empagliflozin on nighttime SBP and DBP was also observed. Liraglutide caused higher daytime SBP and DBP decline from baseline than empagliflozin.