Use of Novel Antidiabetic Agents in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19: A Critical Review

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Djordje S Popovic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina; Nikolaos Papanas, Democritus University of Thrace; Anca Pantea Stoian, Carol Davila University of Medicine & Pharmacy; Ali A Rizvi, Emory University; Andrej Janez, University of Ljubljana; Manfredi Rizzo, Carol Davila University of Medicine & Pharmacy
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-10-26
• Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13300-021-01170-3
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: DIABETES THERAPY
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 12
• Start Page: 3037
• End Page: 3054
• Grant/Funding Information: No funding or sponsorship was received for this study or publication of this article.
• Keywords: MORTALITY; Endocrinology & Metabolism; COVID-19; Type 2 diabetes; Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors; COMORBIDITIES; Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors; OUTCOMES; GLUCOSE; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; CORONAVIRUS; ASSOCIATION; RISK-FACTORS; INHIBITORS; BIOMARKERS; Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Pharmacy

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The latter is a pandemic that has the potential of developing into a severe illness manifesting as systemic inflammatory response syndrome, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ involvement and shock. In addition, advanced age and male sex and certain underlying health conditions, like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), predispose to a higher risk of greater COVID-19 severity and mortality. This calls for an urgent identification of antidiabetic agents associated with more favourable COVID-19 outcomes among patients with T2DM, as well as recognition of their potential underlying mechanisms. It is crucial that individuals with T2DM be kept under very stringent glycaemic control in order to avoid developing various cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications associated with more severe forms of COVID-19 that lead to increased mortality. The use of novel antidiabetic agents dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i), sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in subjects with T2DM may have beneficial effects on COVID-19 outcomes. However, relevant studies either show inconsistent results (DPP4i) or are still too few (SGLT2i and GLP-1RAs). Further research is therefore needed to assess the impact of these agents on COVID-19 outcomes.