Cardiovascular Diabetology features a Collection on "Incretin-Based Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity: Current Evidence and the Evolving Cardiometabolic Landscape". This is a companion Collection with Cardiovascular Diabetology - Endocrinology Reports with the title "Pleiotropic Actions of Incretin-Based Therapies".

Building upon the growing recognition of cardiometabolic organ protection as a central therapeutic goal, incretin-based therapies have reshaped the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity, extending their clinical relevance far beyond glycemic control. Large-scale cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have shown that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) significantly reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), redefining cardiometabolic risk management and influencing contemporary therapeutic strategies. Targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) pathways, these agents enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion, promote weight reduction, and exert multi-organ effects. Growing evidence supports their impact on vascular function, myocardial metabolism, renal protection, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and systemic inflammation.

Three principal pharmacological approaches currently characterize incretin-based therapy:

• GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), mostly injectable medications with proven improved cardiovascular outcomes and weight-reduction.
• Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, newer solely injectable medications designed to enhance glycemic control and weight-reduction efficacy.
• DPP-4 inhibitors (also known as gliptins), oral medications which modestly increase endogenous incretin levels and have no impact on cardiovascular outcomes or body weight.

Beyond glucose lowering, incretin-based therapies are increasingly positioned within the broader cardiometabolic framework, with emerging data supporting cardiovascular and renal protection, as well as effects on endothelial function, atherosclerosis, heart failure phenotypes, and chronic kidney disease progression.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Classic antidiabetic, anti-obesity and cardioprotective effects
• Cardiovascular outcomes and mechanistic correlates
• Endothelial and vascular biology
• Myocardial metabolism and heart failure subtypes
• Novel renal and hepatoprotective actions
• Optimization and individualized use of existing GLP-1 receptor agonists
• Development of novel GLP-1 receptor agonists and multi-agonist (dual and triple) strategies
• Emerging extra-metabolic actions, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects
• Combination therapies, including co-formulations with insulin or SGLT2 inhibitors
• Innovative delivery systems, including non-injectable and implantable approaches
• Real-world comparative effectiveness, long-term safety, adherence and treatment durability

This Collection welcomes original research, translational studies, and comprehensive reviews and meta-analyses that provide novel mechanistic insight or clinically relevant evidence to advance understanding of the expanding role of incretin-based therapies in cardiometabolic medicine.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the journal editorial board. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com.

Cardiovascular Diabetology features a Collection on "Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome: Risk Stratification, Prognostic Implications and Therapeutic Innovation". This is a companion Collection with Cardiovascular Diabetology - Endocrinology Reports with the title "Endocrine Drivers and Clinical Implications of the Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic Syndrome" and with BMC Cardiovascular Disorders with the title "Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome: diagnosis and management of a systemic disorder".

The cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) syndrome describes the multidirectional interactions linking excess adiposity, metabolic dysfunction — particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes — chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular involvement. In affected individuals, metabolic abnormalities frequently coexist with subclinical or overt cardiovascular disease.

Rather than representing a simple clustering of comorbidities, CKM represents a pathophysiological continuum in which metabolic dysregulation drives progressive cardiovascular and renal injury through inflammation, oxidative stress, renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system activation, lipotoxicity, and endothelial dysfunction, ultimately promoting adverse cardiac remodeling, heart failure, and cardiorenal syndrome.

The American Heart Association has proposed a staged framework ranging from individuals without metabolic risk (stage 0) to isolated adiposity (stage 1), metabolic or kidney disease without overt cardiovascular involvement (stage 2), subclinical cardiovascular disease (stage 3), and symptomatic cardiovascular disease (stage 4). This framework aims to facilitate earlier risk identification and integrated cardiovascular prevention across the CKM spectrum.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Early detection of multiorgan abnormalities across CKM stages
• Diagnostic laboratory and imaging biomarkers
• Digital health tools for remote monitoring of blood pressure, weight, glycemia, and kidney function
• Application of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) for risk prediction and treatment selection
• Geographical epidemiology of CKM syndrome
• Social determinants contributing to CKM development and progression
• Life-course determinants, including childhood obesity and gestational diabetes
• Multi-target non-pharmacological interventions
• Established pharmacological therapies (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists)
• Emerging therapies, including RNA-based approaches, incretin combinations, and anti-inflammatory strategies

This Collection invites original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses that contribute to improved risk stratification, prognostic assessment, and therapeutic innovation within the integrated CKM framework.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the journal editorial board. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com.