Beyond Diabetes: A Review of Emerging Indications for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists.

This review examines the expanding therapeutic applications of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) beyond their original indication of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. The authors survey clinical trial evidence supporting the use of GLP-1 RAs across several cardiometabolic conditions, including obesity, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The review highlights that robust clinical trial data exist for weight loss, cardiovascular outcome improvements, and renal function preservation. The authors also note that additional trials are ongoing to further broaden and strengthen the evidence base. Practical challenges are discussed, including high costs, limited patient access, adherence difficulties, and implementation barriers—especially for indications outside of diabetes. The review identifies emerging innovations, such as oral GLP-1 RA formulations and combination therapies, as potential avenues to improve accessibility and long-term use. The authors conclude that as clinical guidelines continue to evolve, targeted integration of GLP-1 RAs into care pathways may reshape prevention and treatment strategies for complex chronic diseases. As a narrative review, this paper synthesizes existing literature but does not generate new primary data, which limits the directness of its evidence.

Why this grade: This is a narrative review article that synthesizes existing literature rather than generating new primary human or animal data, warranting a grade of "review."