BP improves with patients taking GLP-1, says study

Results from a new study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension showed that the GLP-1, tirzepatide, reduced 24-hour systolic BP both at night and in the daytime compared with placebo.

Researchers examined the impact on ambulatory BP from tirzepatide, which was shown during a large clinical trial to lower BP readings taken at the doctor’s office. As a preplanned substudy to the SURMOUNT trial, 1, 600 participants with obesity but not T2D (tirzepatide is approved to treat both) underwent ambulatory BP monitoring for 24 hours at baseline and again at week 36.

All patients had a body mass indicating overweight or obesity, BP higher than 140/90 mm Hg, and, if taking antihypertensive therapy, the same regimen in place for at least 3 months. Each patient received either one of three doses of tirzepatide or placebo. The final analysis included 494 participants who had valid ambulatory BP monitoring data at baseline and week 36.

Based on mediation analyses, the improvement was attributed in part to reduced weight. While participants also experienced an acceleration in heart rate, the evidence suggests this outcome likely would abate with continued treatment over the long term.

“This study demonstrates that tirzepatide improves 24-hour BP in obesity-related hypertension,” the study authors wrote. “While being consistent with in-office measurement, the current study uses a method that is superior to office BP alone for predicting cardiovascular risk.”