GLP-1 drugs benefit both men and women equally for cardiovascular and kidney outcomes | Research

The takeaway

Meta-analysis of 11 trials (85,273 patients) found GLP-1 drugs reduce MACE (14% in males, 18% in females), kidney outcomes (20% in males, 31% in females), and stroke (21% in males, 25% in females) with no significant sex-based interactions.

Benefits equal for both sexes
No significant sex interactions found—GLP-1 drugs reduce MACE, kidney events, and stroke consistently in both men and women

What the researchers found

Males: MACE -14%, kidney -20%, stroke -21%. Females: MACE -18%, kidney -31%, stroke -25%. No significant sex interactions (all p>0.05). CV death, MI, HHF also similar between sexes.

Why it matters

Sex-based differences in drug efficacy are a major concern in cardiovascular medicine. Confirming GLP-1 drugs work equally well in women is important because women have historically been underrepresented in cardiovascular trials.

How the study worked

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (85,273 patients, 43,339 GLP-1RA, 41,934 placebo) reporting sex-stratified outcomes. Random-effects models.

What this study cannot tell us

Sex-stratified data relies on secondary analyses of trials. Women typically underrepresented. Numerical differences may become significant with larger female samples. Cannot assess dose-response by sex.

How to read the evidence

Meta-analysis of 11 RCTs with 85,273 patients. High-quality evidence for consistent sex-independent benefits.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

This addresses an important equity question: women can confidently be prescribed GLP-1 drugs for cardiorenal protection with the same expectation of benefit as men.

Questions still open

Would larger female-enriched trials reveal significant sex differences?
Do hormonal factors influence GLP-1 drug efficacy differently in pre vs post-menopausal women?
Should GLP-1 dosing be adjusted by sex?

Common questions

Do GLP-1 drugs work the same for women as for men?

Yes. This large analysis of 85,273 patients from 11 clinical trials found GLP-1 drugs reduce heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems equally in both sexes. Women showed slightly larger numerical benefits for some outcomes, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Why is this important for women?

Women have historically been underrepresented in cardiovascular drug trials, raising concerns about whether results apply equally to them. This study provides strong evidence that GLP-1 drugs are just as beneficial for women as for men in protecting the heart and kidneys.

Read the original research

Sex differences in the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular and renal outcome trials.

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 27(12), 6847-6856

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Siddiqui, Hasan Fareed; Ali, Dua; Sajid, Maryam; Qureshi, Shaheer; Siddiqui, Hibah; Hasan, Ali; Ripley, David; Ahmed, Raheel; Waqas, Saad Ahmed. (2025). Sex differences in the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular and renal outcome trials.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 27(12), 6847-6856. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.70123