Existing data on the effectiveness of individual dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors on the risk of heart failure (HF) were limited.

A new study published in Value in Health investigated the relationship between DPP-4 inhibitors and the risk of HF in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus.

This study identified 50 randomized controlled trials. Analyses results revealed that when compared to placebo, the risk of HF events did not increase for vildagliptin, sitagliptin, or saxagliptin. However, alogliptin was associated with a higher risk of HF. Moreover, vildagliptin and sitagliptin were associated with a significantly decreased risk of HF compared with alogliptin. Furthermore, vildagliptin had the highest probability to be the safest option with regard to the risk of HF (49.18%), followed by saxagliptin (26.56%), sitagliptin (20.76%), linagliptin (0.25%), and alogliptin (0.12%).

It was stated that the risk of HF needs to be considered when prescribing DPP-4 inhibitors. The findings of this meta-analysis indicated that vildagliptin may be the least harmful agent with regard to the risk of HF.