Cardiology Letters 2024, 33(6):371-377

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: a new pharmacological treatment for chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction

Norbert Nagy¹, Martin Jozef Péč¹, Jakub Jurica¹, Zuzana Miertová¹, Boris Focko¹, Tomáš Bolek¹, Matej Samoš^{1, 2}, Marián Mokáň¹

¹ I. interná klinika JLF UK a UNM, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Univerzitná nemocnica Martin

² Oddelenia akútnej a intervenčnej kardiológie

Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical subset defined by challenging diagnostics, diverse phenotypes, and complex treatment. It accounts for more than half of all hospitalizations due to decompensated heart failure. Current guidelines for HFpEF treatment recommend the use of SGLT2 (sodium glucose co-transporter 2) inhibitors. However, HFpEF is often associated with obesity, and the arrival of new medications in the field of obesity management opens up additional treatment options.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar databases to identify topic-relevant literature on patients with HFpEF, its therapy. The analysis was focused on new medications, its limitations and benefits.

Results and Conclusions: Current data show a significant effect of GLP-1 RA in patients with HFpEF and obesity. Our conclusion suggests that the use of GLP-1 RA in patients with HFpEF and obesity has an impact on physical performance, weight reduction, and decreases in CRP (C reactive protein) and NT-proBNP levels (N-Terminal pro B type Natriuretic Peptide). However, despite these findings, randomized clinical trials are still needed to confirm this effect and to determine whether the positive impact of GLP-1 RA treatment is primarily due to weight loss.

Keywords: GLP-1 RA; HFpEF; obesity

Published: June 1, 2024  Show citation