In patients with high-risk heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction, the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide did not improve death rate or rate of hospitalization, according to results from the FIGHT trial presented Nov. 8 during AHA 2015 in Orlando.

The trial looked at 300 high-risk HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40 percent) and recent hospitalization, who received either liraglutide or placebo daily. Results showed that there was "no significant difference" between the liraglutide and placebo-treated patients based on the study's primary endpoint, death rate or rate of hospitalization.

However, among the diabetic patients in the trial, liraglutide was associated with greater weight loss and better glycemic control as compared to the placebo-treated patients.

The researchers note that moving forward, "larger studies are needed to establish the safety of liraglutide or other GLP-1 agonists for diabetes management or as a weight loss strategy in patients with advanced heart failure."

Keywords: AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Lipoatrophic, Glucagon-Like Peptides, Heart Failure, Hospitalization, Metabolic Syndrome, Stroke Volume, Ventricular Function, Weight Loss

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