Counteracting heart failure with diabetes drugs: a review into the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties

The current role of SGLT2 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes and beyond: a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is, gliflozins), the most recent oral antihyperglycaemic agents, provide a cardiorenal protection, an effect independent of their glucose-lowering potency.

AREAS COVERED

The antihyperglycaemic potency of SGLT2is was compared with that of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, especially when added to metformin monotherapy. Main results of cardiovascular/renal outcome trials with SGLT2is were summarized in different populations: patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without established cardiovascular disease, patients (with or without T2DM) with heart failure (with reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction) and in patients (with or without T2DM) with chronic kidney disease (CKD, including stage 4). Original papers and meta-analyses of these different trials have consistently reported a reduction in hospitalization for heart failure (alone or combined with cardiovascular mortality) and a reduced progression of CKD, with an overall good safety profile.

EXPERT OPINION

Global use of SGLT2is has increased over time but remains suboptimal despite clinically relevant cardiovascular and renal protection, particularly in patients most likely to benefit. SGLT2is has proven both positive benefit-risk balance and cost-effectiveness in at risk patients. New prospects are expected in other complications, i.e. metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and neurodegenerative disorders.

Efficacy and safety profile of SGLT2 inhibitors in the elderly: How is the benefit/risk balance?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent health condition in the aging population. Older adults with T2DM have higher risks of cardiovascular disease, heart failure (long underestimated) and premature death than those without diabetes. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have proven their ability to improve cardiovascular prognosis and reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (hHF). However, several adverse events have been reported, whose incidence and severity might be increased in the elderly population. The aims of this comprehensive review were to analyze the benefit-risk ratio of SGLT2i therapy in older patients with T2DM by collecting data from (i) large prospective placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcome trials (including those dedicated to heart failure), using both original publications and dedicated post-hoc analyses across different age groups and (ii) observational cohort studies, describing the effects of SGLT2is versus other glucose-lowering agents on cardiovascular outcomes and hHF in elderly patients or these effects in different age groups. Overall, consistent results showed a similar relative risk reduction in cardiovascular mortality and hHF with SGLT2is independently of age. The absolute risk reduction may be greater in elderly because of a higher background risk in older versus younger patients. Similarly, the safety profile of SGLT2is appeared comparable in older versus younger patients. In conclusion, the benefit/risk balance favors the use of SGLT2is in older patients at risk of cardiovascular disease and/or heart failure. Caution may be required in very old frail patients, especially those exposed to an increased risk of volume depletion.

Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction by baseline glycaemic status (DELIVER): a subgroup analysis from an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are risk factors for heart failure and adverse heart failure outcomes. The Dapagliflozin Evaluation to Improve the Lives of Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure (DELIVER) trial showed that dapagliflozin was associated with a reduction in the primary outcome of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of oral dapagliflozin in these patients by their baseline glycaemia categories.

METHODS

DELIVER was an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial done in 350 health-care centres and hospitals across 20 countries. Patients aged 40 years or older with New York Heart Association class II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction of more than 40%, elevated natriuretic peptides (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide ≥300 pg/mL or ≥600 pg/mL for patients in atrial fibrillation or flutter), and evidence of structural heart disease were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg dapagliflozin or placebo, administered orally, and followed up for a median of 2·3 years (IQR 1·7-2·8). The primary outcome, a composite of time from randomisation to first worsening heart failure events (defined as an unplanned hospitalisation or urgent heart failure visit requiring intravenous therapy) or cardiovascular death, in participants with type 2 diabetes (history of or identified by HbA_1c ≥6·5% [48 mmol/mol] at baseline) or prediabetes (HbA_1c 5·7 to <6·5% [39 mmol/mol to <48 mmol/mol] at baseline) was compared with those with normoglycaemia (HbA_1c <5·7% [39 mmol/mol]). Efficacy of dapagliflozin versus placebo was assessed according to glycaemic status and based on HbA_1c as a continuous measure. The full-analysis set comprised all patients who were randomly assigned to study treatment, with patients analysed according to their randomised treatment assignment, irrespective of the treatment received (ie, intention to treat). The safety analysis set comprised patients who were randomly assigned to study treatment and who took at least one dose of investigational product, with patients analysed according to the treatment actually received. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03619213.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 1, 2018, and Jan 18, 2021, 6263 patients were randomly assigned to oral dapagliflozin (n=3131) or placebo (n=3132). Of these patients, 1175 had normoglycaemia, 1934 had prediabetes, and 3150 had type 2 diabetes and were included in the glycaemia subgroup analysis (3515 [56·2%] of 6263 patients were men and 4435 [70·9%] were White). The incidence rate of the primary outcome was 6·9 per 100 patient-years in the normoglycaemia subgroup (reference), increasing to 7·6 per 100 patient-years in the prediabetes subgroup (hazard ratio 1·09 [95% CI 0·90-1·31]) and 10·1 per 100 patient-years in the type 2 diabetes subgroup (1·46 [1·24-1·73]; p<0·0001 for trend). Dapagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary outcome versus placebo in each subgroup (hazard ratio 0·77 [95% CI 0·57-1·04], log-rank p=0·088, for patients with normoglycaemia, 0·87 [0·69-1·08], log-rank p=0·21, for patients with prediabetes, and 0·81 [0·69-0·95], log-rank p=0·0077, for patients with type 2 diabetes; p_interaction=0·82) and across the continuous HbA_1c range (p_interaction=0·85). Volume-related or renal serious adverse events or adverse events leading to discontinuation of the study drug, hypoglycaemia, and amputations were not differentially affected by treatment in any of the glycaemia categories.

INTERPRETATION

In patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, oral dapagliflozin improved heart failure outcomes to a similar extent in three glycaemia subgroups: normoglycaemia, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the heart failure benefits of dapagliflozin seem to be consistent across a continuous glycaemic range.

FUNDING

AstraZeneca.