Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42271434›Full record

ReviewDiabetology & metabolic syndrome2026

GLP-1 receptor agonists as multisystem therapies: from glycemic control to cardiorenal, neuroimmune, and metabolic disease.

Malek Zarei, Yasamin Hajiani

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diabetology & metabolic syndrome, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Malek ZareiDepartment of Pharmacology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Yasamin HajianiDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. drjhajiani@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were initially developed as incretin-based therapies for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Over the past decade, robust clinical and mechanistic evidence has demonstrated that their therapeutic effects extend beyond glycemic control, leading to expanding use in obesity and cardiometabolic disease.

methodsThis narrative review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials, cardiovascular and kidney outcome studies, meta-analyses, and real-world data, complemented by mechanistic and translational studies where relevant. Evidence across organ systems was critically appraised with attention to study design, outcome relevance, heterogeneity, and clinical certainty.

resultsGLP-1RAs consistently induce clinically meaningful weight loss and reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, while slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease in both diabetic and non-diabetic populations. These benefits are supported by large outcome trials and appear only partially attributable to improvements in glycemic control or body weight alone. In contrast, evidence supporting additional effects in metabolic liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea is moderate but evolving, whereas data on immune modulation, skeletal health, neuroprotection, and neuropsychiatric outcomes are largely derived from mechanistic, biomarker-based, observational, or preclinical studies and remain heterogeneous.

conclusionGLP-1 receptor agonists have transitioned from glucose-lowering therapies to cornerstone agents in cardiometabolic disease management. While their efficacy in obesity, cardiovascular risk reduction, and kidney protection is well established, proposed benefits in other organ systems should be interpreted cautiously and in the context of variable evidence strength. Future research should prioritize long-term safety, durability of benefit, and adequately powered trials designed to clarify disease-modifying potential beyond established cardiometabolic indications.

Indexed as

Cardiometabolic diseaseCardiovascular outcomesChronic kidney diseaseExtra-glycemic effectsGLP-1 receptor agonistsObesity

Identifiers

PMID42271434
PMCPMC13479717

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.