Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors Associated Heart Failure Events in Adult Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated With Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Introduction: DPP-4 inhibitors use has been reported to cause heart failure events in patients with type-2 diabetes. The FDA had also issued warnings concerning increased risk of heart failure events for alogliptin, saxagliptin and their combination with metformin.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adult patients with type-2 diabetes patients with or without history of cardio-vascular disorders were included in the review. Cohort studies, case-control studies and other non-RCTs, and studies involving paediatric patients were excluded. Data bases searched were PubMed/Medline, DOAJ, MDPI, Google Scholar and clinicaltrails.gov. The search was conducted in late January of 2026. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB-2 tool for RCTs. Individual study outcomes were tabulated and summary measure was synthesized by meta-analysis under random effect model; GRADE certainty of evidence was used; sub-group analysis based on individual DPP-4 inhibitors, follow-up duration and placebo or other controls was done; systematic review was done under PRISMA 2020 Guidelines.
Results: The meta-analysis was done under random effect computation model for all 29 included studies. The analysis for total of pooled 67,873 patients showed statistically insignificant association between the use of DPP-4 inhibitors and heart failure with Risk Ratio (RR) = 1.06, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.94-1.12. Sub-group analysis found significant association of saxagliptin use with increased heart…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 67,873 participants or records.
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