Cardiovascular protective effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetic cardiomyopathy: mechanisms and clinical prospects

doi:10.12092/j.issn.1009-2501.2026.06.002

Abstract

Abstract:

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cardiovascular complication in diabetic patients, especially more prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although remarkable progress has been made in hypoglycemic therapy for diabetes in recent years, conventional drugs still fail to effectively delay the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are novel incretin-based medications, which are not only used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, but also exert significant cardioprotective and metabolic protective effects, and can reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. This paper reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms of DCM, and focuses on the extra-hypoglycemic protective mechanisms of GLP-1RAs in DCM as well as the latest advances in clinical research.

Key words: diabetic cardiomyopathy, GLP-1 receptor agonists, diabetic cardiovascular complications

CLC Number:

R542.2

Xiaoman XU, Lei ZHOU. Cardiovascular protective effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetic cardiomyopathy: mechanisms and clinical prospects[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2026, 31(6): 729-734.

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