Administering Mounjaro to those with type 2 diabetes and heart disease could dramatically reduce the likelihood of heart attacks, according to fresh research. Patients receiving the injection were 33% less likely to experience a heart attack compared to those on an alternative type 2 diabetes medication.
Mounjaro is a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, also referred to as tirzepatide. It is currently prescribed on the NHS for treating type 2 diabetes and severe obesity.
The American study, published in The BMJ, examined nearly 53,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes and heart disease who had commenced treatment with either Mounjaro or sitagliptin, another diabetes medication.
Scientists monitored major adverse cardiovascular events (Mace) — encompassing heart attacks, strokes and death from any cause — across both groups.
Following a year, the risk of Mace stood at 2.9% amongst those on Mounjaro compared to 4.4% in the sitagliptin cohort. Scientists estimate this equates to preventing one case for every 70 individuals treated.
Mounjaro reduced the risk of heart attacks by a third, though no significant difference was identified in stroke cases.
Nevertheless, Mounjaro did reduce instances of hospital admissions resulting from infections, the analysis revealed. One hospital admission was avoided for every 48 patients, researchers found.
It also prevented one death from any cause for every 122 patients treated.
The researchers explained: “This study shows how trial-anchored evidence from clinical practice can estimate the expected cardiovascular benefit of initiating tirzepatide beyond standard background treatment and inform shared decision making.”