Fig. 2.

Network diagrams for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients inadequately controlled on diet and exercise (a), inadequately controlled on metformin alone (b) and inadequately controlled on combination therapy with metformin (MET) plus a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i; name listed where relevant) (c). Superscripts: 1 Study added for sensitivity analysis only, 2 study dropped from sensitivity analysis (no connection via placebo), 3 study does not report systolic blood pressure, 4 data from VERTIS MONO, subsequently published by Terra et al. 2017 [8], 5 study does not report non-severe hypoglycemic events, genital mycotic infections (GMIs), severe hypoglycemic events, 6 data from the VERTIS MET trial, subsequently published in Rosenstock et al. 2018 [7], 7 data from the VERTIS FACTORIAL trial, subsequently published in Pratley et al. 2018 [6], 8 data from VERTIS SITA2 trial, subsequently published in Dagogo-Jack et al. 2018 [4], 9 study does not report target glycated hemoglobin, GMIs, urinary tract infections, hypoglycemic events, adverse events. Circles represent sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor treatments, hexagons represent glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Dark gray shapes are on a background of MET, light grey shapes are on a background combination therapy of MET plus a DPP4i (specific DPP4i stated for clarity). CANA Canagliflozin, DAPA dapagliflozin, EMPA empagliflozin, ERTU ertugliflozin, LINA linagliptin, LIRA liraglutide, PBO placebo, SAXA saxagliptin, SITA sitagliptin