Tirzepatide reduces cardiovascular risks in diabetes patients

A study published in ‘The BMJ’ suggests that Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, provides health benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease beyond weight loss and blood sugar control.

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich and Harvard Medical School analyzed data from 52,971 patients aged 40 and older. The study compared 35,353 patients treated with Tirzepatide against 17,618 patients treated with Sitagliptin. After one year, the rate of major cardiovascular events—including heart attack, stroke, or death—was 2.9% in the Tirzepatide group compared to 4.4% in the Sitagliptin group, representing a relative risk reduction of approximately 32%.

Additionally, the data indicated a reduction in infection-related complications. Hospitalizations due to infections fell from 5.4% to 3.3%, and the risk of death from infection was reduced by 60%. The study noted a ‘Number Needed to Treat’ (NNT) of 70, meaning 70 patients would need to be treated for one year with Tirzepatide instead of Sitagliptin to prevent one major adverse event.