A systematic review of the effectiveness of Liraglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Abstract

This is a systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of liraglutide in the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. The objective of this research is to systematically review the clinical effectiveness of liraglutide in the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Studies were identified by searching seven electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, CRD, Cochrane, MRC and UKCRN), secondary references of other studies and hand searching of two journals. Only randomised controlled trials were considered. Study quality was assessed using CASP, and data were extracted in a standard form. Analysis was by narrative synthesis and meta-analysis. Results showed that five studies (n = 1634) randomised to liraglutide were identified. Three of the studies: Harder (2004), Seino (2008), and Vilsbøll (2007) compared liraglutide with placebo; while two of the studies: Buse (2009) and Garber (2009) compared liraglutide with active control (exenatide or glimepiride). The results of the studies show that a minimum of 8 weeks liraglutide treatment provides evidence of clinical effectiveness in the reduction of HbA1c. Empirically liraglutide appears to be more effective than placebo, exenatide and glimepiride in the treatment of type 2 diabetes; but this evidence is provided by few studies and therefore requires strengthening by more studies if policy change is to be considered.

Keywords: systematic review, effectiveness, liraglutide, type 2 diabetes