Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate the cardiovascular efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in Asian, Black or African American, and White populations, and to assess whether the magnitude of cardiovascular risk reduction differs across these populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched to 11 November 2025 for randomized placebo-controlled GLP-1RA trials in adults with type 2 diabetes or overweight/obesity that reported race-stratified major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke). Hazard ratios (HRs) for MACE were extracted for Asian, Black or African American, and White populations. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to obtain pooled HRs and ratios of HRs (RHRs) comparing treatment effects between populations. RESULTS: Nine trials, including the recent SOUL trial, were included, comprising 8164 Asian, 4036 Black or African American, and 62 503 White participants. GLP-1RAs reduced MACE risk in Asian (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.63-0.85; p < 0.001) and White populations (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.81-0.91; p < 0.001). In Black or African American populations, the effect was similar to that in White populations (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.67-1.15; p = 0.34) but did not reach statistical significance. The pooled RHR for Asian versus White populations was 0.84 (95% CI 0.71-0.98; p = 0.027), indicating a significantly greater risk reduction in Asian populations. The RHR for Asian versus Black or African American populations was 0.81 (95% CI 0.57-1.16; p = 0.25), with point estimates favouring Asian populations. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1RAs reduced MACE risk across populations, with greater relative risk reduction in Asian populations and broadly similar benefits in Black or African American and White populations.