Effects of liraglutide on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 1 diabetes

We investigated the short-term effect of adding liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily to insulin treatment on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 1 diabetes. In total, 100 overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m(2) ) adult patients (age ≥18 years) with type 1 diabetes and HbA1c ≥8% (64 mmol/mol) were randomised to liraglutide 1.8 mg or placebo added to insulin treatment in a 24-week double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. At baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment, 24-h blood pressure and heart rate, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness were evaluated. Compared with placebo, liraglutide increased 24-h heart rate by 4.6 beats per min (BPM); p = 0.0015, daytime heart rate by 3.7; p = 0.0240 and nighttime heart rate by 7.5 BPM; p < 0.001 after 24 weeks. Diastolic nocturnal blood pressure increased by 4 mmHg; p = 0.0362 in the liraglutide group compared with placebo. In conclusion, in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes liraglutide as an add-on to insulin increased heart rate and did not improve other cardiovascular risk factors after 24 weeks of treatment.