A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications, commonly used for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss, significantly reduce deaths, amputations, and hospitalizations among patients with Type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD). The research, which analyzed health records of over 2,000 adults, compared outcomes between those taking GLP-1 RAs and those taking metformin, the standard diabetes medication.
Compared to metformin users, patients on GLP-1 RAs experienced a 26% reduction in all-cause mortality, a 13% reduction in hospitalizations, up to a 48% reduction in amputations, and about a 36% reduction in the need for procedures to restore blood flow to the legs. However, rates of heart attack, stroke, and serious kidney events were similar between groups. The benefits were most pronounced in patients with severe PAD, including chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and those with obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher).
“Because GLP-1 RAs show significant benefits, especially for high-risk patients with severe circulation problems in their legs, clinicians should consider prescribing GLP-1s because peripheral artery disease has limited treatment options,” said study author Aravinda Nanjundappa, M.D., interventional cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. The study suggests these medications may improve long-term health beyond blood sugar and weight management.
The research used the TriNetX database to identify patients aged 18 or older with Type 2 diabetes and PAD from January 2010 to January 2025. The analysis matched 2,133 patients per group, with 63% white, 23% Black, and 45% women. Limitations include the inability to prove cause and effect and potential diagnostic coding errors in electronic health records.
According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 statistics, an estimated 29.5 million U.S. adults have Type 2 diabetes, and PAD affects about 12.5 million people aged 40 or older. The findings highlight the potential of GLP-1 RAs to address limited treatment options for PAD. Joshua J. Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer expert, noted that more research is needed to confirm findings and understand mechanisms, such as reduced inflammation, and whether benefits extend to PAD patients without diabetes.
For more information, visit the Journal of the American Heart Association or the American Heart Association.
