In addition to causing significant weight loss, the injectable diabetes medications known as GLP-1s significantly reduce the risk of heart issues. According to a recent study, compared to an earlier, non-GLP-1 diabetic medication, the GLP-1 medication tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) lowers the risk of heart attack as well as the risk of death from any cause, including severe infections.
The study, which was published in The BMJ on August 8, 2026, was based on health insurance claims data for around 53,000 individuals 40 years of age and older from May 2022 to May 2025. They all had heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight (BMI of 25 or greater). The remaining patients were taking sitagliptin (Januvia), while another 35,000 were taking tirzepatide.
After a year, sitagliptin users had a roughly one-third lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death (4.4%) compared to tirzepatide users (2.9%). Additionally, the tirzepatide group had a lower chance of serious bacterial infections, which reduced their risk of infection-related death by up to 60% and their requirement for hospitalization by around one-third. According to the authors’ calculations, one heart attack, stroke, or death would be avoided for every 70 patients who began tirzepatide. There would be one fewer death from any cause for every 122 patients, and one infection-related hospital stay would be avoided for every 48 patients.