Effect of liraglutide on ambulatory blood pressure in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Aims To assess the effect of liraglutide on 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate in patients with hypertension (pre‐ and stage 1 hypertension) and inadequately controlled Type 2 diabetes (glycated haemoglobin 7%–10% [53‐86 mmol/mol]). Materials and methods Eligible patients for this investigator‐initiated, parallel‐group, randomized, double‐blind trial were on stable background antihyperglycaemic therapy excluding insulin, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl‐peptidase‐4 inhibitors. Participants were centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio to daily liraglutide 0.6 mg, titrated to 1.2 mg after the first week, or placebo for 5 weeks. The primary outcome was change in 24‐hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP), and secondary outcomes included change in ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate. We also assessed renal sodium handling. Results Of 87 patients assessed for eligibility, 62 (66.1% men) with a mean age of 60.2 years were randomized to liraglutide (n = 31) or placebo (n = 31). All participants received background therapy with metformin, whilst 35.5% were treated concomitantly with sulphonylureas and 14.5% with pioglitazone. Compared with placebo, liraglutide reduced 24‐hour SBP by −5.73 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI] –9.81 to −1.65) and had a neutral effect on 24‐hour DBP (mean difference − 1.42 mm Hg; 95% CI –4.25 to 1.40), whilst increasing 24‐hour heart rate by 6.16 beats/min (95% CI 3.25 to 9.07). Findings were consistent for daytime and night‐time measurements. Liraglutide did not increase urine sodium excretion. Conclusion Based on 24‐hour ambulatory measurements, short‐term treatment with liraglutide had a favourable effect on SBP whilst increasing heart rate.