The Influence of Liraglutide for Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

The efficacy of liraglutide to treat heart failure remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of liraglutide on heart failure. We searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through March 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of liraglutide on cardiac function of heart failure. Meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. Four RCTs involving 629 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with the control group for heart failure, liraglutide treatment significantly can reduce NT-proBNP (Std. MD = -3.06; 95% CI = -5.78 to -0.34; P = .03), and improve 6MWT (Std. MD=1.10; 95% CI = 0.75 to 1.44; P < .00001), but has no remarkable influence on LVEF change (Std. MD=1.10; 95% CI = -1.97 to 3.98; P = 0.51), LVEDV change (Std. MD = 6.26; 95% CI = -1.45 to 13.97; P = .11), LVESV change (Std. MD = -13.47; 95% CI = -31.04 to 4.10; P = .13), hospitalization for heart failure (RR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.88 to 1.58; P = .27), major adverse cardiovascular events (RR = 1.55; 95% CI = -0.24 to 9.89; P = .64), and cardiac death (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.61 to 2.04; P = .72). Liraglutide treatment has an important ability to reduce NT-proBNP and improve 6MWT for heart failure, but shows no important influence on LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, hospitalization for heart failure, major adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiac death.