Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

Eligibility and Cost-Utility Analysis of Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure Across the Whole Spectrum of Ejection Fraction in South Korea

BACKGROUND

The DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials demonstrated the clinical benefits of dapagliflozin in heart failure (HF) patients across the entire ejection fraction (EF) spectrum. However, further investigation is needed for the real-world application of dapagliflozin in HF patients. This study examines the proportion of real-world HF patients eligible for dapagliflozin and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of adding dapagliflozin to current HF therapy.

METHODS

Data from the nationwide prospective registry, the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry, were used to determine dapagliflozin eligibility based on the enrollment criteria of the DAPA-HF/DELIVER trials. A cost-utility analysis was conducted using a Markov model to assess the cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin by comparing it to the standard of care.

RESULTS

Out of 5178 KorAHF patients, 48.7% met the enrollment criteria of the DAPA-HF/DELIVER trials, while 89.5% met the label criteria (US Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, and Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). Eligibility was highest among HF patients with preserved EF (55.3% vs. HF with mildly reduced EF and HF with reduced EF 46.4%). Dapagliflozin proved to be cost-effective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 4557 US dollar (US$) per quality-adjusted life year, which falls below the US$18,182 willingness-to-pay threshold. The cost-effectiveness benefit was more pronounced in patients with a left ventricular EF (LVEF) ≤ 40% (ICER US$3279 for LVEF ≤ 40% vs. US$8383 for LVEF > 40%).

CONCLUSIONS

Discrepancies in dapagliflozin eligibility were observed between real-world data and clinical trial results. The addition of dapagliflozin to HF therapy proved to be highly cost-effective across the entire EF spectrum.

SGLT2-Inhibitors on HFpEF Patients. Role of Ejection Fraction

Results from DELIVER trial and publication of EMPEROR-Preserved with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with heart failure (HF) with ejection fraction (EF) > 40% represent a significant step forward in the treatment of HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). However, detailed analysis and attenuation of effect at higher EF levels have sparked some doubts about whether empagliflozin is effective across the entire spectrum of EF. HFpEF is no longer considered as one disease entity, but has been reconceptualized as a heterogenous group of phenotypes with derangements in multiple organ systems, driven by comorbidities. This heterogeneity suggests that it should not be considered as a single group in terms of treatment goals or clinical approach. Future research at the higher range of EF should ideally tailor investigations for unequivocally preserved EF (> 50%), consider the dynamic nature of EF over time, and use low-variability imaging techniques such as CMR. Furthermore, classifications based on pathophysiology and HF phenotypes beyond the EF construct will shape the design of future trials and help narrow down groups of patients who may respond to personalized treatment.

The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin ameliorates the fluid-retaining effect of the endothelin A receptor antagonist zibotentan

BACKGROUND

Endothelin A receptor antagonists (ETARA) slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression but their use is limited due to fluid retention and associated clinical risks. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) cause osmotic diuresis and improve clinical outcomes in CKD and heart failure. We hypothesized that co-administration of the SGLT2i dapagliflozin with the ETARA zibotentan would mitigate the fluid retention risk using hematocrit (Hct) and bodyweight as proxies for fluid retention.

METHODS

Experiments were performed in 4% salt fed WKY rats. First, we determined the effect of zibotentan (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg/day) on Hct and bodyweight. Second, we assessed the effect of zibotentan (30 or 100 mg/kg/day) alone or in combination with dapagliflozin (3 mg/kg/day) on Hct and bodyweight.

RESULTS

Hct at Day 7 was lower in zibotentan versus vehicle groups [zibotentan 30 mg/kg/day, 43% (standard error 1); 100 mg/kg/day, 42% (1); and 300 mg/kg/day, 42% (1); vs vehicle, 46% (1); P < .05], while bodyweight was numerically higher in all zibotentan groups compared with vehicle. Combining zibotentan with dapagliflozin for 7 days prevented the change in Hct [zibotentan 100 mg/kg/day and dapagliflozin, 45% (1); vs vehicle 46% (1); P = .44] and prevented the zibotentan-driven increase in bodyweight (zibotentan 100 mg/kg/day + dapagliflozin 3 mg/kg/day = -3.65 g baseline corrected bodyweight change; P = .15).

CONCLUSIONS

Combining ETARA with SGLT2i prevents ETARA-induced fluid retention, supporting clinical studies to assess the efficacy and safety of combining zibotentan and dapagliflozin in individuals with CKD.

Guideline-directed medical therapy is similarly effective in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction

AIMS

Current guidelines recommend that disease-modifying pharmacological therapies may be considered for patients who have heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes, provision of pharmacological therapies and dose-related associations with mortality risk in HFmrEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We explored data from two prospective observational studies, which permitted the examination of the effects of pharmacological therapies across a broad spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The combined dataset consisted of 2388 unique patients, with a mean age of 73.7 ± 13.2 years of whom 1525 (63.9%) were male. LVEF ranged from 5 to 71% (mean 37.2 ± 12.8%) and 1504 (63.0%) were categorised as having reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 421 (17.6%) as HFmrEF and 463 (19.4%) as preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Patients with HFmrEF more closely resembled HFrEF than HFpEF. Adjusted all-cause mortality risk was lower in HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.99); p = 0.040) and in HFpEF (HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.52-0.71); p < 0.001) compared to HFrEF. Adjusted all-cause mortality risk was lower in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF who received the highest doses of beta-blockers or renin-angiotensin inhibitors. These associations were not evident in HFpEF. Once adjusted for relevant confounders, each mg equivalent of bisoprolol (HR 0.95 [95% CI 0.91-1.00]; p = 0.047) and ramipril (HR 0.95 [95%CI 0.90-1.00]; p = 0.044) was associated with incremental reductions in mortality risk in patients with HFmrEF.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacological therapies were associated with lower mortality risk in HFmrEF, supporting guideline recommendations which extend the indications of these agents to all patients with LVEF < 50%. HFmrEF more closely resembles HFrEF in terms of clinical characteristics and outcomes. Pharmacological therapies are associated with lower mortality risk in HFmrEF and HFrEF, but not in HFpEF.

A review of potential mechanisms and uses of SGLT2 inhibitors in ischemia-reperfusion phenomena

Recently added to the therapeutic arsenal against chronic heart failure as a first intention drug, the antidiabetic drug-class sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) showed efficacy in decreasing overall mortality, hospitalization, and sudden death in patients of this very population, in whom chronic or acute ischemia count among the first cause. Remarkably, this benefit was observed independently from diabetic status, and benefited both preserved and altered ventricular ejection fraction. This feature, observed in several large randomized controlled trials, suggests additional effects from SGLT2i beyond isolated glycemia control. Indeed, both in-vitro and animal models suggest that inhibiting the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE) may be key to preventing ischemia/ reperfusion injuries, and by extension may hold a similar role in ischemic damage control and ischemic preconditioning. Yet, several other mechanisms may be explored which may help better target those who may benefit most from SGLT2i molecules. Because of a large therapeutic margin with few adverse events, ease of prescription and potential pharmacological efficacity, SGLT2i could be candidate for wider indications. In this review, we aim to summarize all evidence which link SGLT2i and ischemia/reperfusion injuries modulation, by first listing known mechanisms, including metabolic switch, prevention of lethal arrythmias and others, which portend the latter, and second, hypothesize how the former may interact with these mechanisms.

Dapagliflozin improves myocardial flow reserve in patients with type 2 diabetes: the DAPAHEART Trial: a preliminary report

Objective

Cardiovascular (CV) outcome trials have shown that in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) reduces CV mortality and hospital admission rates for heart failure (HF). However, the mechanisms behind these benefits are not fully understood. This study was performed to investigate the effects of the SGLT-2i dapagliflozin on myocardial perfusion and glucose metabolism in patients with T2D and stable coronary artery disease (coronary stenosis ≥ 30% and < 80%), with or without previous percutaneous coronary intervention (> 6 months) but no HF.

Methods

This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial including 16 patients with T2D randomized to SGLT-2i dapagliflozin (10 mg daily) or placebo. The primary outcome was to detect changes in myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) from baseline to 4 weeks after treatment initiation by [(18)F]2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) PET/CT during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. The main secondary outcome was to assess whether the hypothetical changes in MGU were associated with changes in myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) measured by ¹³N-ammonia PET/CT. The study was registered at eudract.ema.europa.eu (EudraCT No. 2016-003614-27) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 03313752).

Results

16 patients were randomized to dapagliflozin (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8). The groups were well-matched for baseline characteristics (age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, renal and heart function). There was no significant change in MGU during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in the dapagliflozin group (2.22 ± 0.59 vs 1.92 ± 0.42 μmol/100 g/min, p = 0.41) compared with the placebo group (2.00 ± 0.55 vs 1.60 ± 0.45 μmol/100 g/min, p = 0.5). Dapagliflozin significantly improved MFR (2.56 ± 0.26 vs 3.59 ± 0.35 p = 0.006 compared with the placebo group 2.34 ± 0.21 vs 2.38 ± 0.24 p = 0.81; p_int = 0.001) associated with a reduction in resting MBF corrected for cardiac workload (p = 0.005; p_int = 0.045). A trend toward an increase in stress MBF was also detected (p = 0.054).

Conclusions

SGLT-2 inhibition increases MFR in T2D patients. We provide new insight into SGLT-2i CV benefits, as our data show that patients on SGLT-2i are more resistant to the detrimental effects of obstructive coronary atherosclerosis due to increased MFR, probably caused by an improvement in coronary microvascular dysfunction.

Trial registration EudraCT No. 2016-003614-27; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03313752

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12933-022-01607-4.

Impact of B-lines-guided intensive heart failure management on outcome of discharged heart failure patients with residual B-lines

AIMS

Pulmonary congestion (PC) expressed by residual lung ultrasound B-lines (LUS-BL) could exist in some discharged heart failure (HF) patients, which is a known determinant of poor outcomes. Detection efficacy for PC is suboptimal with widely used imaging modalities, like X-ray or echocardiography, while lung ultrasound (LUS) can sufficiently detect PC by visualizing LUS-BL. In this trial, we sought to evaluate the impact LUS-BL-guided intensive HF management post-discharge on outcome of HF patients discharged with residual LUS-BL up to 1 year after discharge. IMP-OUTCOME is a prospective, single-centre, single-blinded, randomized cohort study, which is designed to investigate if LUS-BL-guided intensive HF management post-discharge in patients with residual LUS-BL could improve the clinical outcome up to 1 year after discharge or not.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After receiving the standardized treatment of HF according to current guidelines, 318 patients with ≥3 LUS-BL assessed by LUS within 48 h before discharge will be randomly divided into the conventional HF management group and the LUS-BL-guided intensive HF management group at 1:1 ratio. Patient-related basic clinical data including sex, age, blood chemistry, imaging examination, and drug utilization will be obtained and analysed. LUS-BL will be assessed at 2 month interval post-discharge in both groups, but LUS-BL results will be enveloped in the conventional HF management group, and diuretics will be adjusted based on symptom and physical examination results with or without knowing the LUS-BL results. Echocardiography examination will be performed for all patients at 12 month post-discharge. The primary endpoint is consisted of the composite of readmission for worsening HF and all-cause death during follow up as indicated. The secondary endpoints consisted of the change in the New York Heart Association classification, Duke Activity Status Index, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide value, malignant arrhythmia event and 6 min walk distance at each designed follow up, echocardiography-derived left ventricular ejection fraction, and number of LUS-BL at 12 month post-discharge. Safety profile will be recorded and managed accordingly for all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial will explore the impact of LUS-BL-guided intensive HF management on the outcome of discharged HF patients with residual LUS-BL up to 1 year after discharge in the era of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blocker-neprilysin inhibitor.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05035459.

Long-term Survival Following Heart Transplantation for Chagas Versus Non-Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Single-center Experience in Northeastern Brazil Over 2 Decades

Data on post–heart transplant (HT) survival of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC) are scarce. We sought to evaluate post-HT survival in patients with CC as compared with other causes of heart failure across different eras of HT.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Initiating Type 2 Diabetes Therapy with a Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Versus Conventional Therapy in Japan

INTRODUCTION

Many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) suffer from complications that impose substantial burdens on prognosis and medical costs. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated the clinical benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on cardiovascular and renal complications. However, the health economic impact of SGLT2i remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of initiating antidiabetic therapy with an SGLT2i using Japanese real-world data.

METHODS

We constructed a natural history model incorporating heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as complications. The target population comprised patients with T2DM who newly initiated their first oral glucose-lowering drugs. By using a population-based microsimulation, we estimated the 10-year medical costs in Japanese yen (JPY) and outcomes (hospitalization for/development of complications and quality-adjusted life years [QALY]) for patients who initiated antidiabetic therapy with an SGLT2i or conventional therapy. Sensitivity analyses included a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) with 1,000,000 iterations.

RESULTS

In the base-case analysis, the total medical cost per person was JPY 1,638,806 versus JPY 1,825,033 and the QALYs were 8.732 versus 8.513 for the SGLT2i strategy versus the conventional strategy, respectively. Thus, initiating treatment with an SGLT2i was dominant, more effective (QALY gain), and lower cost. When treating 10,000 patients, the SGLT2i strategy would reduce all-cause deaths by 410 (552 vs 962), HF events by 201 (897 vs 1098), and ESRD events by 16 (16 vs 32) versus the conventional strategy. The PSA revealed that the probability of dominance for initiating SGLT2i therapy was 90.5%, demonstrating the robustness of the results.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that initiating T2DM treatment with SGLT2i, aimed at managing cardiovascular and renal complications from the early stages of diabetes, can improve the clinical outcome and reduce cost burden of T2DM.

Dapagliflozin Attenuates Myocardial Fibrosis by Inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad Signaling Pathway in a Normoglycemic Rabbit Model of Chronic Heart Failure

Recent studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors play a beneficial role for normoglycemic patients with heart failure (HF). However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibitors in a normoglycemic rabbit model of chronic heart failure (CHF) and its potential mechanism was also explored. A total of 24 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into the sham group, HF group, perindopril group, and dapagliflozin (DAPA) group. The normoglycemic CHF model was established by aortic constriction for 12 weeks. In the 13th week, DAPA (1 mg/kg/day) or perindopril (0.5 mg/kg/day) was administered by oral gavage daily for 10 weeks. Both the sham group and HF group were given normal saline via gavage. After 10 weeks, the heart structure and function were evaluated by echocardiography and plasma NT-proBNP. Moreover, cardiac fibrosis was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, Masson’s trichrome staining, and Western blotting analysis. The results showed that DAPA improved the myocardial structure and function of normoglycemic CHF rabbits and ameliorated myocardial fibrosis. Further study indicated that DAPA suppressed cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings showed that DAPA could ameliorate cardiac fibrosis in normoglycemic CHF rabbits by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Plin5, a New Target in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Abnormal lipid accumulation is commonly observed in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC), which can create a lipotoxic microenvironment and damage cardiomyocytes. Lipid toxicity is an important pathogenic factor due to abnormal lipid accumulation in DC. As a lipid droplet (LD) decomposition barrier, Plin5 can protect LDs from lipase decomposition and regulate lipid metabolism, which is involved in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, studies have shown that Plin5 expression is involved in the pathogenesis of DC lipid toxicity, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and insulin resistance (IR) and has become a key target of DC research. Therefore, understanding the relationship between Plin5 and DC progression as well as the mechanism of this process is crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches and exploring new therapeutic targets. This review is aimed at exploring the latest findings and roles of Plin5 in lipid metabolism and DC-related pathogenesis, to explore possible clinical intervention approaches.

Development and Validation of a Novel Nomogram to Predict Improved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Heart Failure After Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion

Background

Heart failure with improved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFiEF) is linked to a good clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to create an easy-to-use model to predict the occurrence of HFiEF in patients with heart failure (HF), 1 year after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) (CTO PCI).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with HF who successfully underwent CTO PCI between January 2016 and August 2019 were included. To mitigate the effect of residual stenosis on left ventricular (LV) function, we excluded patients with severe residual stenosis, as quantitatively measured by a residual synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score (rSS) of &gt;8. We gathered demographic data, medical history, angiographic and procedural characteristics, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory results, and medication information. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of HFiEF 1 year after CTO revascularization. A nomogram was established and validated according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration curves. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap resampling.

Results

A total of 465 patients were finally included in this study, and 165 (35.5%) patients experienced HFiEF 1 year after successful CTO PCI. According to the LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses, four variables were selected for the final prediction model: age [odds ratio (OR): 0.969; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.952–0.988; p = 0.001], previous myocardial infarction (OR: 0.533; 95% CI: 0.357–0.796; p = 0.002), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (OR: 0.940; 95% CI: 0.910–0.972; p &lt; 0.001), and sodium glucose cotransporter two inhibitors (OR: 5.634; 95% CI: 1.756–18.080; p = 0.004). A nomogram was constructed to present the results. The C-index of the model was 0.666 (95% CI, 0.613–0.719) and 0.656 after validation. The calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram agreed with the actual observations.

Conclusions

We developed an simple and effective nomogram for predicting the occurrence of HFiEF in patients with HF, 1 year after successful CTO PCI without severe residual stenosis.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Cardiac Remodeling

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have evident cardiovascular benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (only empagliflozin and dapagliflozin have been investigated in this group so far), and chronic kidney disease. Prevention and reversal of adverse cardiac remodeling is one of the mechanisms by which SGLT2 inhibitors may exert cardiovascular benefits, especially heart failure-related outcomes. Cardiac remodeling encompasses molecular, cellular, and interstitial changes that result in favorable changes in the mass, geometry, size, and function of the heart. The pathophysiological mechanisms of adverse cardiac remodeling are related to increased apoptosis and necrosis, decreased autophagy, impairments of myocardial oxygen supply and demand, and altered energy metabolism. Herein, the accumulating evidence from animal and human studies is reviewed investigating the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on these mechanisms of cardiac remodeling.

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease

Despite significant advances in the management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), there remains an enormous health problem with high morbidity and mortality over the last few decades. The neprilysin inhibitor enhances the activity of natriuretic peptides, producing vasodilation, natriuresis, and diuresis. Angiotensin receptor blockers inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Sacubitril/valsartan, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes in HFrEF and delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with HFrEF. The PARADIGM-HF study showed a reduction in diuretic need in the ARNI group. While the use of diuretics is effective in volume control in patients with HFrEF, their use has the potential to adversely affect renal function. Therefore, ARNI therapy could benefit patients with heart failure and CKD by reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and possibly retarding the progression of CKD, although more clinical evidence is required in patients with severe CKD and end-stage renal disease.

Late-Onset Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient With Massive Stroke Requiring Decompressive Craniectomy: A Case Report

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a well-recognized adverse effect associated with the use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Early recognition of this medical emergency and timely intervention can prevent the notorious consequences of this serious complication. However, this form of DKA can easily be masqueraded by normal serum glucose levels. This article describes a 49-year-old man diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on dapagliflozin who presented with a large right-sided middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke complicated by euglycemic DKA, developed 72 hours after stopping the drug. This case is unique considering that dapagliflozin's half-life is only 12.9 hours, and the body completely eliminates it within 72 hours. But our patient developed DKA features after the elimination window. Hence, this case highlights the importance to consider euglycemic DKA in the presence of ketonemia and metabolic acidosis in a patient who is a chronic SGLT-2 inhibitor user even if the drug was discontinued several days before the patient's presentation.

Role of Selective Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors in Managing Cardio-Renal Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Beyond Glycemic Control

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular complications are the leading causes of death in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Apart from the standard therapy, which includes angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), lipid-lowering medication, and anti-platelet therapy, the new group of drugs termed the 'sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors' have shown promising results in managing complications arising from the cardiovascular and renal systems in diabetics. This article attempts to highlight the role and mechanism of action of this class of drugs. 

 We reviewed 127 articles and analyses of randomized controlled trials using several drugs in the SGLT2 inhibitor family (sotagliflozin, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, tofogliflozin) over the past five years, out of which 58 met the criteria and aim of the study. These articles were retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline data sources and assessed for quality using the assessment of multiple systematic reviews (AMSTAR) checklist and Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Results from the review showed significant benefits in reducing progressive renal decline, blood pressure control, heart failure hospitalization, death from renal or cardiovascular complications, myocardial infarction, and stroke. This benefit is also seen in non-diabetic patients, hence postulating that these effects may not be solely due to glycemic control. There are several mechanisms with which it achieves this benefit with the most significant being its role on intraglomerular pressure. Other pathways include blood pressure control, natriuresis, ventricular remodeling, erythropoiesis, lipid metabolism, plasma volume, and electrolyte imbalance. 

 It is clear that the role of SGLT2 inhibitors isn’t limited to glycemic control and they can achieve a wide array of functions by affecting different systems. More studies need to be done to completely understand this medication to improve the quality of life in diabetic and non-diabetic patients living with CKD and cardiovascular complications. The pharmacokinetics of this drug could also help set the basis for newer medications.

Cardioprotective Effects of Pioglitazone in Type 2 Diabetes

Antidiabetic medications that improve glycemic control as well as cardiovascular outcomes will be the mainstay of treatment for type 2 diabetes moving forward. This article reviews the beneficial effects of the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone of ameliorating hyperglycemia and improving cardiovascular risk factors. While the newer sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist drug classes have confirmed cardiovascular benefits, pioglitazone also has been shown to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events, in both people with type 2 diabetes and nondiabetic subjects with insulin resistance. Adverse effects associated with pioglitazone can be mitigated by its use at a lower dose and in combination with antidiabetic agents from other drug classes.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and risk for genitourinary infections in older adults with type 2 diabetes

Background and aims:

Although landmark clinical trials have demonstrated an increased risk for genitourinary infection (GUI) after initiation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) therapy that led to an FDA label warning, real world findings have been inconsistent and evidence specifically in older adults is lacking. The objective of the study was to examine the incidence of GUI in patients aged 65 years or older initiated on SGLT2i compared with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) therapy at a large academic health system.

Methods:

A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using electronic health records of patients aged 65 years and older with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients newly initiated on SGLT2i or GLP1-RA therapy with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ⩾30 mL/min per 1.73 m² and active within the health system for at least 1 year prior to initiation were included. We compared the incidence of inpatient, emergency room, or outpatient diagnosis of GUI (bacterial and mycotic) within 6 months of SGLT2i or GLP1-RA initiation. A chi-square or Fisher’s exact test were used to analyze between-group differences for categorical variables, while a t-test was used for continuous variables. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the impact of confounding variables on the primary outcome.

Results:

One hundred and thirty-three patients were initiated on SGLT2i therapy and 341 patients newly initiated on GLP1-RA therapy. After adjusting for differences in age, A1c, body mass index, eGFR, race and sex, there was no statistically significant difference in GUI incidence within 6 months of SGLT2i versus GLP1-RA initiation (3.8% versus 6.5%, adjusted hazard ratio: 0.784, 95% confidence interval 0.260–2.367).

Conclusion:

We found no increased risk of composite GUI within 6 months of initiating SGLT2i compared with GLP1-RA therapy. These real-world data in older adults add to previous findings, which suggest no increased risk of urinary tract infection with SGLT2i initiation.

Plain language summary

A class of antidiabetic medications and risk for genitourinary infections in older adults with type 2 diabetes

Older adults with type 2 diabetes often benefit from a class of antidiabetic medications known as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) which help to lower blood glucose, decrease risk for cardiovascular disease and prevent kidney disease progression. However, there is concern that these medications may increase risk for urinary tract infections and/or genital fungal infections in older adults based on clinical trial evidence. Our study evaluated the real-world occurrence of these safety events in patients aged 65 years or older who were newly started on these medications. We compared these patients with a group of patients newly started on an alternative class of antidiabetic agents which are not expected to increase risk for infections, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA). In our study, we included 133 patients who started an SGLT2i and 341 patients who started a GLP1-RA at a large teaching hospital. We evaluated the occurrence of infection up to 6 months after initiation of these mediations. We found no significant difference in infection rate between these two groups. We conclude in the study that the use of SGLT2i in older adults was not associated with increased risk for urinary tract infections or genital fungal infections when compared with GLP1-RA use.

[Chronic kidney injury in patients with liver diseases - Reappraising pathophysiology and treatment options]

Acute and chronic kidney disease concurs commonly with liver disease and is associated with a wide array of complications including dialysis dependency and increased mortality. Patients with liver disease or liver cirrhosis show a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease. This is attributed to concomitant comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammation, hypercoagulability, hyperfibrinolysis, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemias. But chronic progressive kidney disease is not always due to hepatorenal syndrome. Beyond that, other diseases or disease entities should be considered. Among them are diabetic nephropathy, secondary IgA nephropathy, hepatitis C -associated membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and hepatitis B-associated membranous nephropathy.Coexisting diseases, similar underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, or simultaneously concurring pathophysiological processes and overlapping clinical manifestations, impede the etiologic diagnosis and corresponding treatment of chronic kidney disease in the setting of chronic liver disease. In this review, we focus on common and rare pathologies, which can lead to chronic kidney disease in this particular patient group and try to summarize the most recent therapeutic modalities.

Dietary Phosphorus as a Marker of Mineral Metabolism and Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that is critically important in the control of cell and tissue function and body homeostasis. Phosphorus excess may result in severe adverse medical consequences. The most apparent is an impact on cardiovascular (CV) disease, mainly through the ability of phosphate to change the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells and its contribution to pathologic vascular, valvular and other soft tissue calcification. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most prevalent chronic disease manifesting with the persistent derangement of phosphate homeostasis. Diabetes and resulting diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remain the leading causes of CKD and end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) worldwide. Mineral and bone disorders of CKD (CKD-MBD), profound derangement of mineral metabolism, develop in the course of the disease and adversely impact on bone health and the CV system. In this review we aimed to discuss the data concerning CKD-MBD in patients with diabetes and to analyze the possible link between hyperphosphatemia, certain biomarkers of CKD-MBD and high dietary phosphate intake on prognosis in patients with diabetes and DKD. We also attempted to clarify if hyperphosphatemia and high phosphorus intake may impact the onset and progression of DKD. Careful analysis of the available literature brings us to the conclusion that, as for today, no clear recommendations based on the firm clinical data can be provided in terms of phosphorus intake aiming to prevent the incidence or progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Lower cardiorenal risk with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes without cardiovascular and renal diseases: A large multinational observational study

AIMS

We compared the new use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) and the risk of cardiorenal disease, heart failure (HF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), in patients with type 2 diabetes without a history of prevalent cardiovascular and renal disease, defined as cardiovascular and renal disease (CVRD) free, managed in routine clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this observational cohort study, patients were identified from electronic health records from England, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Sweden, during 2012-2018. In total, 1 006 577 CVRD-free new users of SGLT2i or DPP4i were propensity score matched 1:1. Unadjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for outcomes: cardiorenal disease, HF, CKD, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the treatment groups (n = 105 130 in each group) with total follow-up of 187 955 patient years. Patients had a mean age of 56 years, 43% were women and they were indexed between 2013 and 2018. The most commonly used agents were dapagliflozin (91.7% of exposure time) and sitagliptin/linagliptin (55.0%), in the SGLT2i and DPP4i, groups, respectively. SGLT2i was associated with lower risk of cardiorenal disease, HF, CKD, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; HR (95% confidence interval), 0.56 (0.42-0.74), 0.71 (0.59-0.86), 0.44 (0.28-0.69), 0.67 (0.59-0.77), and 0.61 (0.44-0.85), respectively. No differences were observed for stroke [0.87 (0.69-1.09)] and MI [0.94 (0.80-1.11)].

CONCLUSION

In this multinational observational study, SGLT2i was associated with a lower risk of HF and CKD versus DPP4i in patients with type 2 diabetes otherwise free from both cardiovascular and renal disease.

Bibliometric Study of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Research

Background

An increasing number of studies have shown that sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, initially used as antidiabetic agents, have cardiovascular (CV) benefits. However, few bibliometric analyses have examined this field systematically. Our study aimed to visualize the publications to determine the trends and hotspots in CV research on SGLT2 inhibitors.

Methods

Publications on SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiovascular research were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Microsoft Excel 2019, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace V were used to analyze and plot the references.

Results

On July 3, 2020, 1509 records of CV research on SGLT2 inhibitors published from 2013 to 2020 were retrieved. Nearly half were authored by American scholars, and most were published in Diabetes Obesity Metabolism, Cardiovascular Diabetology, and Diabetes Therapy. The USA was the leading driving force, with a strong academic reputation in this area. Inzucchi SE published the most related articles, while Neal B was cited the most frequently. All the top 10 co-cited references were in the leading co-cited journal, The New England Journal of Medicine. “Atherosclerotic cardiovascular event” was the leading research hotspot. The keywords “cardiac metabolism,” “heart failure hospitalization,” and “heart failure with preserved ejection fraction” appeared most recently as research frontiers.

Conclusion

Most studies focused on clinical trial outcomes, such as cardiovascular death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. The mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors, especially those related to cardiac metabolism, may soon become hotspots and should be closely monitored.

The role of diabetes in cardiomyopathies of different etiologies-Characteristics and 1-year follow-up results of the EVITA-HF registry

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, e.g. coronary artery disease (CAD). But it has also been shown that diabetes can cause heart failure independently of ischemic heart disease (IHD) by causing diabetic cardiomyopathy. In contrast to diabetes and IHD, limited data exist regarding patients with diabetes and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODS

EVIdence based TreAtment in Heart Failure (EVITA-HF) comprises web-based case report data on demography, diagnostic measures, adverse events and 1-year follow-up of patients hospitalized for chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction ≤40%. In the present study we focused on the results of patients with diabetes and heart failure.

RESULTS

Between February 2009 and November 2015, 4101 patients with chronic heart failure were included in 16 tertiary care centers in Germany. The mortality in patients with diabetes and DCM (n = 323) was more than double (15.2%) than that of DCM patients without diabetes (6.5%, p<0.001, n = 885). In contrast the mortality rate of patients with IHD was not influenced by the presence of diabetes (17.6% in patients with IHD and diabetes n = 945, vs. 14.7% in patients with IHD and no diabetes, n = 1236, p = 0.061). The results also remained stable after performing a multivariable analysis (unadjusted p-value for interaction = 0.002, adjusted p = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

The influence of diabetes on the mortality rate is only significant in patients with DCM not in patients with CAD. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of this effect should be studied in greater detail to improve patient care and outcome.