Improved diastolic function in type 2 diabetes after a six month liraglutide treatment

Aims: To investigate whether liraglutide improves diastolic function in type 2 diabetes. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with type 2 diabetes who began liraglutide therapy between June 2013 and May 2014 were enrolled in this observational, prospective study. 26 patients received liraglutide therapy for at least 6 months. The remaining 11 patients withdrew from liraglutide therapy during the first month, were started on other hypoglycaemic therapies and formed the control group. Anthropometric, metabolic and echocardiographic parameters including pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging were evaluated at baseline and at 6 months. Results: In the liraglutide group the early diastolic mitral annulus velocity on the lateral (e-lat) and medial (e-med) sides of the mitral annulus increased from 9.2 ± 3.4 to 11.6 ± 4.7 cm/s (p < 0.001) and from 6.9 ± 1.7 to 8.4 ± 2.6 cm/s (p < 0.003), respectively. The ratio of early-to-late velocities on the lateral and medial sides of the mitral annulus increased from 0.7 ± 0.3 to 0.9 ± 0.4 (p < 0.001) and from 0.5 ± 0.1 to 0.6 ± 0.1 (p < 0.02), respectively. The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic myocardial relaxation velocity decreased from 10.7 ± 4.3 to 8.5 ± 2.5 (p < 0.005). No improvements in diastolic function was detected in the control group. Glucose control improved similarly in both groups: HA1bc -1.5% (-17 mmol/mol) vs -1.3% (-14 mmol/mol), p = 0.67. Conclusions: In patients with type 2 diabetes, 6 months liraglutide treatment was associated with a significant improvement in diastolic function.