Table 2.
Adverse events in randomised controlled trials, by specific comparisons
| Adverse event | Comparator group (n/N) | Relative risk (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||
| High dose GLP-1R agonists v control interventions*† | ||||
| Withdrawal | 578/3142 | 616/2768 | 0.85 (0.71 to 1.0) | |
| Hypoglycaemia (major episodes) | 341 (10)/2281 | 342 (16)/2036 | 0.98 (0.60 to 1.59) | |
| Nausea | 935/2845 | 219/2556 | 4.33 (3.16 to 5.94) | |
| Vomiting | 277/2494 | 100/2245 | 2.91 (1.93 to 4.39) | |
| Diarrhoea | 305/2411 | 127/2157 | 2.19 (1.79 to 2.68) | |
| High dose GLP-1R agonists v low dose GLP-1R agonists†‡ | ||||
| Withdrawal | 346/1893 | 423/1658 | 0.71(0.60 to 0.85) | |
| Hypoglycaemia (major episodes) | 168 (0)/1335 | 119 (0)/1214 | 1.57 (0.65 to 3.81) | |
| Nausea | 469/1425 | 134/1312 | 3.96 (2.67 to 5.87) | |
| Vomiting | 150/1425 | 69/1312 | 2.67 (1.47 to 4.84) | |
| Diarrhoea | 171/1247 | 65/1135 | 2.35 (1.78 to 3.10) | |
| Low dose GLP-1R agonists v control interventions*‡ | ||||
| Withdrawal | 332/1665 | 392/1426 | 0.71 (0.52 to 0.97) | |
| Hypoglycaemia (major episodes) | 134 (1)/1342 | 119 (0)/1214 | 1.37 (0.75 to 2.52) | |
| Nausea | 399/1665 | 136/1426 | 3.21 (2.18 to 4.72) | |
| Vomiting | 131/1437 | 69/1312 | 2.32 (1.03 to 5.21) | |
| Diarrhoea | 121/1259 | 65/1135 | 1.70 (1.27 to 2.28) | |
*Control interventions: placebo, oral antidiabetic medication, or insulin.
†High doses: 20 µg/day for exenatide; 1.8 mg/day for liraglutide.
‡Low doses: 10 µg/day for exenatide; 1.2 mg/day for liraglutide.