Generalizability of the Results of Cardiovascular Outcome Trials of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the generalizability of the results of cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) to Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The 3B (Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, and Blood Lipid) population, a nationally representative population of patients with T2DM in China (n = 25,411), was examined for eligibility of enrollment in four GLP-1 RAs CVOTs (Dulaglutide-REWIND, Exenatide-EXSCEL, Liraglutide-LEADER, and Semaglutide-SUSTAIN-6). We first estimated the proportion of 3B population who would meet the six inclusion and exclusion (I/E) criteria, namely age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and antidiabetic medication, in each CVOT. Then we compared 11 baseline characteristics, namely age, gender, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, BMI, eGFR, history of CVD, prior myocardial infarction (MI), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and systolic blood pressure, between the population in each CVOT and the 3B population. Lastly, we estimated the proportion of 3B population that matched the characteristics in each CVOT population. RESULTS: On the basis of the I/E criteria, 31.1% of the 3B population would have been eligible for enrollment in REWIND, 15.0% for SUSTAIN-6, 12.9% for LEADER, and 11.3% for EXSCEL. On the basis of the baseline characteristics, REWIND most closely matched the 3B population on gender, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, DBP, LDL-c, history of CVD, and prior MI. The proportion of 3B population matching on at least eight or at least ten baseline characteristics with CVOT populations was highest for REWIND compared to other CVOTs. CONCLUSION: Among the four GLP-1 RA CVOTs, the REWIND trial using once-weekly dulaglutide is most generalizable to Chinese patients with T2DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration: NCT01128205 ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ).