Tirzepatide Linked to Lower Stroke Risk Than Other GLP-1 Agonists in AFib Patients
A retrospective cohort study of 14,118 matched pairs found tirzepatide associated with lower risks of stroke and death than other GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes. Absolute differences were 2.1 percentage points for stroke and 6.2 for mortality at one year. Randomized trials are needed before recommendations change.
In a retrospective cohort study using a large international federated electronic health-record network, tirzepatide use was associated with lower risks of any stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and death from any cause compared with other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among adults with atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes. The analysis included 14,118 matched pairs of adults initiating tirzepatide or another GLP-1 receptor agonist. The absolute difference in stroke risk was 2.1 percentage points at one year, and the absolute difference in mortality was 6.2 percentage points.
These observational findings support further assessment of tirzepatide as a potential option for people with both conditions, but randomized trials are required before treatment recommendations can change. Patients with atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes remain at high risk of stroke despite anticoagulation and glucose-lowering treatment.