Low Concentration of Lipoprotein(a) is an Independent Predictor of Incident Type 2 Diabetes.

The aim of the study was to assess the association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and incident type 2 diabetes. A meta-analysis of qualified studies on the relationship of low levels of Lp(a) concentration with incident type 2 diabetes was conducted. PubMed and Cochrane libraries were searched for randomized controlled trials containing data on events. Seven randomized trials with 227178 subjects were included in this analysis. We found an inverse association of the levels of Lp(a) concentration with risk of type 2 diabetes with approximately 37% lower relative risk in the group with the highest concentration compared with group with the lowest concentration. The current available evidence from prospective studies suggests that there is an inverse association between the levels of Lp(a) concentration and risk of type 2 diabetes, with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes at low levels of Lp(a) concentration. Therefore, we believe that the low levels of Lp(a) concentration is an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes.

MRAs may have lost their cornerstone position for heart failure treatment in the age of SGLT-2 inhibitors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are a cornerstone drug class for heart failure therapy. Several clinical studies have demonstrated its role in heart failure therapy. However, due to the recommendation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors for the treatment of heart failure, there is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding whether MRAs can continue to play a cornerstone role in heart failure treatment. A meta-analysis was performed on subgroups of the DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced trials. Using trial-level data, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors and MRAs on various clinical endpoints of heart failure. The incidence of cardiovascular-related death or heart failure hospitalization was the primary outcome. In addition, we assessed cardiovascular death, all-cause death, heart failure hospitalization, renal outcomes, and hyperkalemia. This study has already been registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022385023. Compared with SGLT-2 inhibitor monotherapy, combined treatment did not demonstrate more significant advantages in terms of heart failure or cardiovascular death (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.78-1.28), cardiovascular death (RR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.61-1.52), heart failure hospitalization (RR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.79-1.07), all-cause death (RR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.63-1.59) and composite kidney endpoint (RR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.49-1.46). Moreover, in comparison to SGLT-2 inhibitors, combined therapy increased the risk of moderate-severe hyperkalemia (blood potassium > 6.0 mmol/l) (RR = 4.13; 95% CI: 2.23-7.65). In patients with HFrEF who have started MRAs treatment, the addition of an SGLT-2 inhibitor provides significant clinical benefit. However, the addition of MRAs to SGLT-2 inhibitors to treat heart failure is not essential.