Effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiovascular, renal, and major safety outcomes in heart failure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Heart Failure in Older People Part 2: Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy

Heart failure is a common cardiovascular disease that affects older people and has a high rate of mortality. Treatment for heart failure has evolved in the past 10 years to include novel evidence-based agents as well as changes in how medications are initiated and up-titrated. Despite evidence of the importance of using four guideline-directed medications, older people are often undertreated with these lifesaving therapies. Senior care pharmacists play an important role in heart failure management among older people by providing therapeutic recommendations; monitoring therapeutic interventions; and educating patients, caregivers, and/ or providers.

Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Background: Several studies have shown that sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors can be used in the treatment of heart failure. This article summarized systematic reviews of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure in order to evaluate efficacy and safety. Methods: We systematically searched eight electronic databases from inception to July 2023. We used Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 to evaluate the methodological quality, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 to assess report quality, Risk of Bias in Systematic Review to assess the risk of bias, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation to rate the quality of evidence. Outcome: A total of 36 systematic reviews were included. Our results were classified as clear evidence of benefit: hospitalization for heart failure; possible benefit: cardiovascular death (mortality) and renal outcome composite; clear evidence of no effect or equivalence: atrial arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and hypotension; possible harm: genital infection; insufficient evidence to draw a conclusion: atrial flutter, major adverse cardiovascular events, urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, hypoglycemia, and bone fracture. Conclusions: Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors are beneficial for the treatment of heart failure, especially in terms of heart failure hospitalization.

Safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors drugs among heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce morbidity and mortality for heart failure (HF) patients and are recommended as cornerstones for their medical therapy. Utilization in clinical practice remains low for multiple reasons, one of which may be adverse events. We investigated the incidence of these events to see if they are associated with SGLT2i use. A systematic search was performed in databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Relevant randomized controlled trial studies assessing the safety outcomes of SGLT2i in HF patients were included in this study. We conducted the common-effect meta-analysis to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of safety outcomes in SGLT2i compared with placebo. Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analysis composed of 12 925 HF patients taking an SGLT2i and 12 747 taking a placebo. The meta-analysis indicated that the all-cause mortality and serious adverse events (SAEs) were lower in the SGLT2i group (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97; P = 0.005, I2 = 0%; and RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95; P < 0.001, I2 = 43%, respectively). Volume depletion and genitourinary infections were more prevalent in the SGLT2i group (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.28; P = 0.001, I2 = 0%; and RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43; P < 0.001, I2 = 17%, respectively). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that using SGLT2is in HF patients was correlated with reduced mortality and SAEs, with a more prominent effect in HF with reduced ejection fraction patients and those taking dapagliflozin.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) Inhibitors in Heart Failure: An Umbrella Review

Heart failure remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death, and presents a significant challenge for healthcare providers despite the advancements in its management. This umbrella review aimed to pool the results of meta-analyses on the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure patients. A literature search was done on five databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Global Index Medicus, and Science Direct for articles with full texts available online. Meta-analyses of five or more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included; the assessment of multiple systematic reviews (AMSTAR) was used to assess the quality of included studies. A systematic search identified 10 relevant meta-analyses of RCTs, with primary analyses including outcome data from 171,556 heart failure patients. A pooled review showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalization, cardiovascular death, mortality, serious adverse events, and improved quality of life. SGLT-2 inhibitors are likely safe and effective in managing patients with heart failure especially considering the acute outcomes.

SGLT2 inhibitor ertugliflozin decreases elevated intracellular sodium, and improves energetics and contractile function in diabetic cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Elevated myocardial intracellular sodium ([Na+]i) was shown to decrease mitochondrial calcium ([Ca2+]MITO) via mitochondrial sodium/calcium exchanger (NCXMITO), resulting in decreased mitochondrial ATP synthesis. The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) ertugliflozin (ERTU) improved energetic deficit and contractile dysfunction in a mouse model of high fat, high sucrose (HFHS) diet-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCMP). As SGLT2is were shown to lower [Na+]i in isolated cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized that energetic improvement in DCMP is at least partially mediated by a decrease in abnormally elevated myocardial [Na+]i.

METHODS

Forty-two eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control or HFHS diet for six months. In the last month, a subgroup of HFHS-fed mice was treated with ERTU. At the end of the study, left ventricular contractile function and energetics were measured simultaneously in isolated beating hearts by 31P NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. A subset of untreated HFHS hearts was perfused with vehicle vs. CGP 37157, an NCXMITO inhibitor. Myocardial [Na+]i was measured by 23Na NMR spectroscopy.

RESULTS

HFHS hearts showed diastolic dysfunction, decreased contractile reserve, and impaired energetics as reflected by decreased phosphocreatine (PCr) and PCr/ATP ratio. Myocardial [Na+]i was elevated > 2-fold in HFHS (vs. control diet). ERTU reversed the impairments in HFHS hearts to levels similar to or better than control diet and decreased myocardial [Na+]i to control levels. CGP 37157 normalized the PCr/ATP ratio in HFHS hearts.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated myocardial [Na+]i contributes to mitochondrial and contractile dysfunction in DCMP. Targeting myocardial [Na+]i and/or NCXMITO may be an effective strategy in DCMP and other forms of heart disease associated with elevated myocardial [Na+]i.

Safety of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Three Chronic Diseases

This study aimed to assess the safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and chronic heart failure considering the number needed to treat (NNT).Methods: Data were obtained from 10 morbidity-mortality trials and were pooled to calculate the NNTs. The number needed to treat to benefit (NNTB) is used to express beneficial outcomes, whereas the number needed to treat to be harmed (NNTH) is used for harmful outcomes. The eight safety outcomes of interest were fracture, diabetic ketoacidosis, amputation, urinary tract infection, genital infection, acute kidney injury, severe hypoglycemia, and volume depletion.A total of 10 trials involving 76319 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The mean follow-up was 2.35 years. SGLT2 inhibitors play a positive role in acute kidney injury and severe hypoglycemia, with the corresponding mean NNTBs being 157 and 561, respectively. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, genital infection, and volume depletion, with the corresponding mean NNTHs being 1014, 41, and 139. It was found that the safety of SGLT2 inhibitors was the same in three diseases and five SGLT2 inhibitors.SGLT2 inhibitors have a positive impact on acute kidney injury and severe hypoglycemia, but they increase the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis, genital infection, and volume depletion.

Safety outcomes of SGLT2i in the heart failure trials: A systematic review and Meta-analysis

AIMS

Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors (SGLT2i) are emerging as a new treatment for heart failure (HF) after demonstrating favorable clinical outcomes in several randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this meta-analysis, we assessed the safety of SGLT2i in the trials that prespecified heart failure in their inclusion criteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the databases for RCTs comparing SGLT2i to placebo in heart failure patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs). A sensitivity analysis according to the class of HF was also performed.

RESULTS

The incidence of SAEs was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.92; P, 0.0002) and SAEs remained significantly lower after performing the sensitivity analysis (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.75-0.89; P, <0.00001). Genital infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and hypotension were significantly higher in the SGLT2i group.

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT2i remain a safe option for patients with HF with a lower incidence of SAEs. However, since they increase the risk of genital infection, UTIs and hypotension, the risks vs benefits in each patient should be weighed when making a prescribing decision.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in heart failure: an updated meta-analysis

Aims

We aimed to examine efficacy and safety outcomes of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) for the treatment of heart failure (HF), especially in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods and results

PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify randomized controlled trials comparing SGLT2i vs. placebo in HF patients. A total of 10 studies with 23 852 HF patients were eventually included. Compared with placebo, SGLT2i is associated with a lower incidence of composite of first hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular death (CV death) [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.76 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71–0.81], which is consistent regardless of the diabetes status, type of gliflozines used, and follow‐up duration. SGLT2i can reduce the risk of total HHF or CV death (HR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.68–0.81), first HHF (HR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.64–0.75), CV death (HR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.80–0.96), any death (HR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.83–0.97), and any serious events (HR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.87–0.93) in HF patients, at the cost of increased risk of urinary tract infections (risk ratio = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.03–1.33). In HFpEF patients, SGLT2i is associated with a significant reduction of composite of first HHF or CV death (HR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.73–0.91), first HHF (HR = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.62–0.82), and total HHF or CV death (HR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.43–0.86).

Conclusions

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor contributed to better efficacy outcomes in overall HF patients and showed an inspiring breakthrough in the treatment of HFpEF.

Impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on major clinical events and safety outcomes in heart failure patients: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) and renal adverse events in patients with diabetes mellitus, heart failure (HF) and/or chronic kidney disease. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the impact of several different SGLT2i on all-cause mortality, CV mortality, HF hospitalizations and the combined outcome CV death/HF hospitalization in HF patients across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) phenotypes.

METHODS

A systematic search in MEDLINE database and Cochrane library through March 2021 was performed without limitations. Randomized clinical trials that provided data about the impact of SGLT2i on all-cause mortality, CV mortality, HF hospitalizations or the combined outcome of CV death/HF hospitalization in HF patients were included. A random effects model was used for calculating the effect estimates.

RESULTS

Nine studies (n = 16,723 patients, mean age: 65.9 years, males: 70.7%) were included in the quantitative synthesis. Compared to placebo, SGLT2i use was associated with 14% lower risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78−0.94,I² = 0, P = 0.0008], 32% lower risk of HF hospitalizations (HR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.62−0.74,I² = 0, P < 0.001), 14% lower risk of CV mortality (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77−0.95, I² = 0, P = 0.003) and 26% lower risk of CV death/HF hospitalization (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.68−0.80,I² = 0, P < 0.001). Regarding the safety outcomes, our data revealed no significant differences between SGLT2i and placebo groups in drug related discontinuations, amputations, severe hypoglycemia, hypotension, volume depletion, ketoacidosis and genital infections. By contrast, a protective role of SGLT2i against placebo was found for serious adverse events and acute kidney injury.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with HF, regardless of LVEF phenotype, all SGLT2i had an excellent safety profile and significantly reduced the risk of all-cause mortality, CV mortality, HF hospitalizations and CV deaths/HF hospitalizations compared to placebo.

Comparative effect of statin intensity between prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus after implanting newer-generation drug-eluting stents in Korean acute myocardial infarction patients: a retrospective observational study

Background

Comparative studies regarding the long-term clinical outcomes of statin intensity between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with prediabetes and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), after successful implantation of newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with statin treatment, are limited. We compared the 2-year clinical outcomes between these patients.

Methods

A total of 11,612 AMI patients were classified as statin users (n = 9893) and non-users (n = 1719). Thereafter, statin users were further divided into high-intensity (n = 2984) or low-moderate-intensity statin (n = 6909) treatment groups. Those in these two groups were further classified into patients with normoglycemia, prediabetes, and T2DM. The major outcomes were the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (Re-MI), or any repeat coronary revascularization.

Results

After adjusting for both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin users, the cumulative incidences of MACE (p = 0.737, p = 0.062, respectively), all-cause death, Re-MI, and any repeat revascularization were similar between the prediabetes and T2DM groups. In the total study population, both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin treatments showed comparable results. However, in the patients who enrolled after October 2012, the cumulative incidences of MACE (aHR 1.533; 95% CI 1.144–2.053; p = 0.004) and any repeat revascularization (aHR, 1.587; 95% CI 1.026–2.456; p = 0.038) were significantly lower in high-intensity statin users than in low-moderate intensity statin users. The beneficial effects of high-intensity compared to low-moderate-intensity statin therapy were more apparent in the normoglycemia group than hyperglycemia group, as it reduced the cumulative incidences of MACE (aHR 1.903; 95% CI 1.203–3.010; p = 0.006) and any repeat revascularization (aHR 3.248; 95% CI 1.539–6.854; p = 0.002).

Conclusions

In this retrospective registry study, prediabetes and T2DM groups showed comparable clinical outcomes, after administering both high-intensity and low-moderate-intensity statin treatments. However, these results are likely to be clearly proved by further studies, especially in patients with AMI who are being treated in contemporary practice.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-02198-w.

Meta-analyzing the factors affecting the efficacy of gliflozins in patients with heart failure based on heart failure trials

BACKGROUND

The factors affecting the efficacy of gliflozins in patients with heart failure (HF) are not clear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of 11 important factors on the efficacy of gliflozins in HF patients.

METHODS

Randomized trials assessing gliflozins in HF patients were included. The outcome of interest was composite HF outcome, a composite of cardiovascular death, or hospitalization for HF. Meta-analysis was done according to 11 factors: status of type 2 diabetes, sex, use of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, age, history of hospitalization for HF, estimated glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, race, region, and left ventricular ejection fraction.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, gliflozins reduced the risk of composite HF outcome by 14% in the subgroup of patients with NYHA class III or IV (hazard ratios [HR] 0.86, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.75-0.99), by 34% in the subgroup of patients with NYHA class II (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.59-0.74), and by 85% in the subgroup of patients with NYHA class I (HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.73). This between-group difference was approximate to statistical significance (Psubgroup = .06). The benefit of gliflozins in HF patients was not affected by the other 10 factors (Psubgroup ≥ .123).

CONCLUSIONS

Gliflozins are applicable for a broad population of HF patients as for preventing HF events, while gliflozins may lead to greater benefits in patients with mild HF than in those with moderate to severe HF.