Efficacy of the Combination of Exenatide and Dapagliflozin in the Management of Diabetes and Weight Control: A Network Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Exenatide and dapagliflozin are medications commonly used in the controlling of T2DM. We aim to assess the efficacy of the combination of both drugs in the management of diabetes and weight control compared to the efficacy of each drug alone. We investigated four databases for relevant randomized clinical trials RCTs. Then a Network meta-analysis was made on the pertinent studies. Mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were utilized to pool continuous data, and the Cochrane Tool was employed to assess the quality of the included RCTs. The network meta-analysis was conducted using the R statistical software. We analyzed 837 patients from four studies. The combination had a significant decrease in HbA1c (mmol/L) compared to exenatide and dapagliflozin; [MD: -3.94, 95% (CI, -6.38 to -1.49)], [MD: -6.54, 95% (CI, -8.90 to -4.17)] respectively. Also, the combination showed a significant decrease in weight compared to dapagliflozin and exenatide alone; [MD: -1.07, 95% CI, (-1.76 to -0.39)] and [MD: -1.82, 95% CI, (-2.52 to -1.13)] respectively. The combination of dapagliflozin and exenatide lowers body weight, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure more effectively than any of the drugs alone. We suggest that this combination, according to its efficacy in improving the primary outcomes of diabetes, will result in general improvement of symptoms and decrease in complications.