The Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cardiovascular outcomes of SGLT-2 inhibitors' subtypes in type 2 diabetes; an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction

The effects of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors on cardiac outcomes, cardiovascular mortality (CVM), and all-cause mortality (ACM) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have been reported heterogeneously in different studies.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scholar databases were searched with relevant MeSH terms from January 1, 2010, to November 14, 2023. The study used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcomes in all trials included the risk of ACM, CVM, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), myocardial infarction (MI), and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in T2DM patients who were treated with one of the SGLT-2 inhibitors. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using Cochran's Q and I2 tests. The Egger's test was used to check for publication bias.

Results

Eighteen studies, including 70,830 participants, were included. A pooled estimate showed that SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment was significantly associated with reduced ACM (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.75-0.90, p-value: 0.001, I2: 35.1%), CVM (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.96, p-value: 0.001, I2: 0%), MI (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.79-0.98, p-value: 0.001, I2: 0%), and HHF (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.58-0.77, p-value: 0.001). SGL-2 inhibitor treatment had no significant relationship with CVA (stroke) (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.8-1.10, p-value: 0.896). Subgroup analysis showed that the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment on outcomes varied based on the type of SGLT-2 inhibitor.

Conclusion

SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment significantly reduced CVM, ACM, MI, and HHF. Empagliflozin, Canagliflozin, and Dapagliflozin significantly reduced ACM. Canagliflozin was significantly associated with a reduction in CVM. All SGLT-2 inhibitor treatments were associated with a reduction in HHF.

Cost-Utility and Budget Impact Analysis of Adding SGLT-2 Inhibitors to Standard Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Patients with Heart Failure: Utilizing National Database Insights from Thailand

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients poses a significant clinical and financial burden. While sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown cardiovascular benefits in trials, they are not included in Thailand's National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), and their value-for-money remains unassessed.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the cost-utility of adding SGLT2i to the standard treatment for T2D-HF patients in Thailand.

METHODS

A Markov model with 3-month cycles and a lifetime horizon was conducted from a societal perspective. Efficacy data came from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Transition probabilities and direct medical costs were derived from the National Health Security Office database, while direct non-medical costs and utility were collected through patient interviews at Siriraj hospital to reflect Thailand's context. The main outcomes were incremental costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A sensitivity and budget impact analysis were also performed.

RESULTS

Canagliflozin led to the highest increase in QALYs, at 1.21 years, followed by dapagliflozin (0.54 years) and empagliflozin (0.06 years). Collectively, SGLT2i yielded an increase of 0.41 QALYs. Canagliflozin incurred the highest additional treatment cost at United States dollars (US$)5600, followed by dapagliflozin (US$3547) and empagliflozin (US$2694). The ICERs for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and overall SGLT2i were US$4632, US$6430, US$48,952, and US$8480 per QALY gained, respectively. SGLT2i were not cost-effective compared with Thailand's willingness-to-pay threshold of US$4564 per QALY gained. However, threshold analysis indicates that the costs of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and overall SGLT-2i should be reduced by 2.3%, 38.2%, 90.2%, and 55.6%, respectively, to be cost-effective. Budget impact analysis revealed that the total budget for treating T2D patients with HF over 5 years is US$15.6 million.

CONCLUSIONS

Adding SGLT2i to standard treatment reduced HF hospitalization and mortality rates and improved QALYs in T2D-HF patients. Nevertheless, they would not be cost-effective at current prices in Thailand.

Effectiveness of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction With or Without Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Recent studies have revealed the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in heart failure patients. However, their effects on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain uncertain. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of SGLT2i in patients with AMI with or without diabetes. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library encompassing data from inception until November 30, 2023. Relevant studies comparing SGLT2i with placebo or non-SGLT2i in patients with AMI were included. The mean difference and/or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using a fixed-effects model when the heterogeneity statistic (I2) was less than 50%; otherwise, a random-effects model was employed. Four randomized controlled trials and 4 observational studies involving 9397 patients with AMI were included in this meta-analysis. Patients treated with SGLT2i exhibited a significantly lower rate of hospitalization for heart failure (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32-0.80) and all-cause death (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44-0.95) compared with those treated with placebo or non-SGLT2i. Furthermore, the use of SGLT2i was associated with a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (mean difference = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.62-2.17) and a greater reduction of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.94). Subgroup analysis revealed that in patients with diabetes, SGLT2i exhibited similar effects. The present meta-analysis provided evidence indicating the effectiveness of SGLT2i in patients with AMI; SGLT2i may serve as an additional therapeutic option for patients with AMI, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes.

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.

Pathophysiology and Advances in the Therapy of Cardiomyopathy in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known as the first non-communicable global epidemic. It is estimated that 537 million people have DM, but the condition has been properly diagnosed in less than half of these patients. Despite numerous preventive measures, the number of DM cases is steadily increasing. The state of chronic hyperglycaemia in the body leads to numerous complications, including diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). A number of pathophysiological mechanisms are behind the development and progression of cardiomyopathy, including increased oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, increased synthesis of advanced glycation products and overexpression of the biosynthetic pathway of certain compounds, such as hexosamine. There is extensive research on the treatment of DCM, and there are a number of therapies that can stop the development of this complication. Among the compounds used to treat DCM are antiglycaemic drugs, hypoglycaemic drugs and drugs used to treat myocardial failure. An important element in combating DCM that should be kept in mind is a healthy lifestyle-a well-balanced diet and physical activity. There is also a group of compounds-including coenzyme Q10, antioxidants and modulators of signalling pathways and inflammatory processes, among others-that are being researched continuously, and their introduction into routine therapies is likely to result in greater control and more effective treatment of DM in the future. This paper summarises the latest recommendations for lifestyle and pharmacological treatment of cardiomyopathy in patients with DM.

Risk of Dementia in Patients with Diabetes Using Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i): A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

INTRODUCTION

Dementia is quite prevalent and among the leading causes of death worldwide. According to earlier research, diabetes may increase the possibility of developing dementia. However, the association between antidiabetic agents and dementia is not yet clear. This investigation examines the association between the use of sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and the risk of dementia in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

Up to April 18, 2023, four databases-Europe PMC, Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library-were searched for relevant literature. We included all studies that examine dementia risk in adults with diabetes who use SGLT2i. Random-effect models were used to compute the outcomes in this investigation, producing pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Pooled data from seven observational studies revealed that SGLT2i use was linked to a lower risk of dementia in people with diabetes (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.34-0.61; p < 0.00001, I2 = 97%). The reduction in the risk of dementia due to SGLT2i's neuroprotective effect was only significantly affected by dyslipidemia (p = 0.0004), but not by sample size (p = 0.2954), study duration (p = 0.0908), age (p = 0.0805), sex (p = 0.5058), hypertension (p = 0.0609), cardiovascular disease (p = 0.1619), or stroke (p = 0.2734).

CONCLUSIONS

According to this research, taking SGLT2i reduces the incidence of dementia in people with diabetes by having a beneficial neuroprotective impact. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still required in order to verify the findings of our research.

Metformin and SGLT2i as First-line Combination Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Real-world Study With a Focus on Ethnicity

PURPOSE

Suboptimal glucose control early in the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is strongly associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality, termed the 'glycaemic legacy'. Additionally, it is known that Asian and Black individuals are at increased risk of T2D, and its associated complications compared to their White counterparts. However, ethnicity does not currently feature in the treatment algorithm of T2D, unlike in other cardiovascular disease states such as hypertension. We therefore sought to evaluate the real-world impact of early intensive treatment with combination therapy on cardiorenal outcomes compared to standard treatment in T2D, with a focus on ethnicity.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients aged 18 or over with T2D using the TriNetX platform. TriNetX is a global collaborative network providing access to real time, anonymised medical records. We included patients who were initiated with Metformin and an SGLT2i within one month of diagnosis of T2D and compared this cohort with individuals who received Metformin only for a period of at least 1 year. We evaluated cardiovascular and renal outcomes at three years and stratified by ethnicity. We excluded individuals with a personal history of an outcome of interest.

FINDINGS

We identified 49,651 individuals with T2D who were treated with Metformin and an SGLT2i and 1,028,806 patients with T2D who were treated with Metformin alone. A total of 98,094 individuals were included in the core analysis. The Metformin only group had a greater risk of mortality (RR 1.44, [95% CI 1.34-1.55], P<0.0001), CKD (RR 1.10, [95% CI 1.04-1.16], P = 0.0004), diabetic nephropathy (RR 1.06, [95% CI 1.01-1.12], P = 0.0239), heart failure (RR 1.13, [95% CI 1.07-1.21], P < 0.0001) and hospitalisation (RR 1.24, [95% CI 1.21-1.27], P < 0.0001) compared to individuals treated with Metformin and SGLT2i. Black individuals had a reduced risk of mortality (RR 0.71, [95% CI 0.55-0.92], P = 0.0099) and IHD (RR 0.73, [95% CI 0.64-0.84], P < 0.0001) compared to White individuals. Asian individuals had a reduced risk of heart failure (RR 0.61, [95% CI 0.41-0.91], P = 0.0134) and hospitalisation (RR 0.76, [95% CI 0.66-0.87], P = 0.0001) compared to White individuals.

IMPLICATIONS

Initial combination treatment within the first year of T2D diagnosis confers favourable cardio-metabolic outcomes when compared to standard therapy, even in patients without established cardiovascular disease. Black and Asian individuals in particular demonstrate a greater degree of benefit compared to White individuals. Further prospective studies with a focus on ethnicity are now required to validate these findings.

Prevalence of cardiac abnormalities and heart failure in unselected out-patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated clinical factors: Real-world evidence from an Indian registry

OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to be associated with development of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and heart failure (HF). The study aimed to determine the prevalence of LV dysfunction and HF in unselected out-patients with T2DM with no previous cardiac history and to correlate LV dysfunction and HF with demographic and comorbid characteristics.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study conducted at 27 centers in India captured demographic and clinical data through electronic case record forms. B-type natriuretic peptide of >105 pg/mL was used to diagnose HF and two-dimensional echocardiography was used to assess LV dysfunction.

RESULTS

Of the 615 patients, 54.3 % (n = 334) were males; mean age was 57.4 ± 10.48 years. More than one-third of the patients had T2DM duration of >10 years (n = 238; 38.7 %), with hypertension as the most prevalent comorbidity (n = 372, 78.6 %). Approximately 61.3 % of the patients had LV hypertrophy. The mean LV mass was 135.0 ± 56.16 g (95 % CI 130.28, 139.70). The prevalence of any type of LV dysfunction, including systolic or diastolic dysfunction and HF was 55 % (95 % CI 51.0, 59.0) and 10 % (95 % CI 7.0, 12.0), respectively. A negligible but statistically significant correlation was observed between LV dysfunction and T2DM duration (p = 0.011), alongside HF and age (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Real-world data from this registry from India demonstrates a substantial burden of LV dysfunction and HF in individuals with T2DM in India. It is imperative to formulate strategies for early identification of LV dysfunction in individuals with T2DM for prevention and consequent management of HF.

SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA therapy in type 1 diabetes and reno-vascular outcomes: a real-world study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Insulin is the primary treatment for type 1 diabetes. However, alternative glucose-lowering therapies are used adjunctively, but importantly are off-label in type 1 diabetes. Little work has previously been undertaken to evaluate safety with long-term efficacy and cardio-renal benefits of such therapies. We sought to investigate the real-world impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy in individuals with type 1 diabetes in relation to effect on blood glucose levels, adverse events and cardio-renal outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients aged 18 or over with type 1 diabetes on the TriNetX platform, a global collaborative network providing access to real-time, anonymised medical records. We included patients who had been treated with an SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA for at least 6 months and analysed the efficacy, safety and cardio-renal outcomes 5 years after initiation of therapy.

RESULTS

We identified 196,691 individuals with type 1 diabetes, 13% of whom were treated with adjunctive glucose-lowering therapy in addition to insulin. Included in the core analysis were 1822 patients treated with a GLP-1 RA and 992 individuals treated with an SGLT2i. Both agents provided clinically meaningful reductions in HbA1c (-2.6 mmol/mol [-0.2%] with SGLT2i and -5.4 mmol/mol [-0.5%] with GLP-1 RA). The SGLT2i treated cohort showed preservation of eGFR over a 5-year period compared with the GLP-1 RA treated cohort (+3.5 ml/min per 1.73 m2 vs -7.2 ml/min per 1.73 m2, respectively), including patients with established chronic kidney disease (CKD). The SGLT2i treated cohort experienced higher rates of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) (RR 2.08 [95% CI 1.05, 4.12] p=0.0309) and urinary tract infection/pyelonephritis (RR 2.27 [95% CI 1.12, 4.55] p=0.019) compared with the GLP-1 RA treated cohort. However, the SGLT2i treated cohort were less likely to develop heart failure (RR 0.44 [95% CI 0.23, 0.83] p=0.0092), CKD (RR 0.49 [95% CI 0.28, 0.86] p=0.0118) and be hospitalised for any cause (RR 0.59 [95% CI 0.46, 0.76] p≤0.0001) when compared with the GLP-1 RA treated cohort.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Both SGLT2is and GLP-1 RAs have potential benefits as adjunctive agents in type 1 diabetes. SGLT2is provide cardio-renal benefits, despite an increase in the risk of DKA and urinary tract infection compared with GLP-1 RA therapy. Long-term evaluation of the efficacy and safety of these adjunctive therapies is required to guide their use in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Impact of novel glucose-lowering therapies on physical function in people with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

AIMS

We investigated evidence from randomised, placebo-controlled trials of novel glucose-lowering therapies; sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), on physical function in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Embase and Cochrane library were searched from 1 April 2005 to 20 January 2022. The primary outcome was change in physical function in groups receiving a novel glucose-lowering therapy versus placebo at the trial end-point.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met our criteria including nine for GLP-1RA and one each for SGLT2i and DPP4i. Eight studies included a self-reported measure of physical function, seven with GLP-1RA. Pooled meta-analysis showed an improvement of 0.12 (0.07, 017) points in favour of novel glucose-lowering therapies, mainly GLP-1RA. These findings were consistent when assessed individually for commonly used subjective assessments of physical function; namely the Short-Form 36 item-questionnaire (SF-36; all investigating GLP-1RA) and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-LITE; all, except one, exploring GLP-1RA) with estimated treatment differences (ETDs) of 0.86 (0.28, 1.45) and 3.72 (2.30, 5.15) respectively in favour of novel GLTs. For objective measures of physical function (VO_2max and 6-minute walk test (6MWT)) no significant between-group differences between the intervention and the placebo were found.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1RAs showed improvements in self-reported outcomes of physical function. However, there is limited evidence to draw definitive conclusions especially because of lack of studies exploring the impact of SGLT2i and DPP4i on physical function. There is a need for dedicated trials to establish the association between novel agents and physical function.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2022

This special article is the 15th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief Dr. Kaplan and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialties of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2022 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights, in the specialties for 2022, begin with an update on COVID-19 therapies, with a focus on the temporal updates in a wide range of therapies, progressing from medical to the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and, ultimately, with lung transplantation in this high-risk group. The second major theme is focused on medical cardiology, with the authors discussing new insights into the life cycle of coronary disease, heart failure treatments, and outcomes related to novel statin therapy. The third theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions focusing on both right-sided and left-sided temporary support outcomes and the optimal timing of deployment. The fourth and final theme is an update on cardiac surgery, with a discussion of the diverse aspects of concomitant valvular surgery and the optimal approach to procedural treatment for coronary artery disease. The themes selected for this 15th special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialties during 2022. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to the improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

Treatment of HFpEF beyond the SGLT2-Is: Does the Addition of GLP-1 RA Improve Cardiometabolic Risk and Outcomes in Diabetic Patients?

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common clinical syndrome frequently seen in elderly patients, the incidence of which is steadily increasing due to an ageing population and the increasing incidence of diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, chronic renal failure, and so on. It is a multifactorial disease with different phenotypic aspects that share left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and is the cause of about 50% of hospitalizations for heart failure in the Western world. Due to the complexity of the disease, no specific therapies have been identified for a long time. Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) and Glucagon-Like Peptide Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are antidiabetic drugs that have been shown to positively affect heart and kidney diseases. For SGLT2-Is, there are precise data on their potential benefits in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) as well as in HFpEF; however, insufficient evidence is available for GLP-1 RAs. This review addresses the current knowledge on the cardiac effects and potential benefits of combined therapy with SGLT2-Is and GLP-1RAs in patients with HFpEF.

Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on aldosterone and renin levels in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and plasma renin activity (PRA) levels are still inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to demonstrate the changes in PAC and PRA levels after the use of SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes patients. A search for relevant publications was performed using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase databases from their inception through May 2022. Inclusion criteria were studies that contained data on crude PAC and PRA levels before and after the use of SGLT2i in adult type 2 diabetes patients. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated. Data was separately analyzed by study design: randomized controlled study (RCT) and non-randomized controlled study (non-RCT). Ten studies involving 380 patients were included with two RCT and eight non-RCT. Serum PAC levels showed no significant change after the use of SGLT2i in both RCT and non-RCT. Significantly higher PRA levels were observed after the use of SGLT2i in both RCT and non-RCT with SMD of 0.40 ng/mL/hr; 95% CI (0.06, 0.74) and SMD of 0.36 ng/mL/hr; 95%CI (0.17, 0.55), respectively. Subgroup analysis found significantly higher PRA levels after the use of SGLT2i (SMD 0.45 ng/mL/hr; 95% CI (0.18, 0.71)) only in subgroups that used for three months or less. The use of SGLT2i in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients can affect PRA levels, especially during short-term use. PRA levels should be interpreted with caution in this population.

Mitochondrial Effects of Common Cardiovascular Medications: The Good, the Bad and the Mixed

Mitochondria are central organelles in the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system via the integration of several physiological processes, such as ATP generation via oxidative phosphorylation, synthesis/exchange of metabolites, calcium sequestration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production/buffering and control of cellular survival/death. Mitochondrial impairment has been widely recognized as a central pathomechanism of almost all cardiovascular diseases, rendering these organelles important therapeutic targets. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to occur in the setting of drug-induced toxicity in several tissues and organs, including the heart. Members of the drug classes currently used in the therapeutics of cardiovascular pathologies have been reported to both support and undermine mitochondrial function. For the latter case, mitochondrial toxicity is the consequence of drug interference (direct or off-target effects) with mitochondrial respiration/energy conversion, DNA replication, ROS production and detoxification, cell death signaling and mitochondrial dynamics. The present narrative review aims to summarize the beneficial and deleterious mitochondrial effects of common cardiovascular medications as described in various experimental models and identify those for which evidence for both types of effects is available in the literature.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Nearly half of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (EF) and the mortality and morbidity of patients with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) are high. Patients with HFpEF are often elderly and their primary chronic symptom is severe exercise intolerance that results in a reduced quality of life. Thus, improvement of exercise capacity and quality of life presents another important clinical outcome in HFpEF patients. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs reported that sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors improved cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients with HF with reduced EF. Although the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients have been examined in multiple RCTs, results are inconsistent due partly to limited power. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of RCTs on the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients.

Methods and Results

The search of electronic databases identified 11 RCTs including 10,845 patients. In pooled analyses, SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced the risk of a composite of hospitalization for HF and CV death (hazard ratio [95 % CI] = 0.78 [0.70, 0.87], P_fix < 0.001). SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly increased 6-minute walk distance (weighted mean difference [95 % CI] = 18.0 [6.8, 29.3] m; P_fix = 0.002) and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Total Symptom Score (weighted mean difference [95 % CI] = 2.57 [0.19, 4.96] points; P_random = 0.035) and reduced plasma NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels (weighted mean difference [95 % CI] = −60.16 [−82.99, −37.33] pg/ml; P_fix < 0.001) compared with control.

Conclusion

The present meta-analysis suggests that SGLT-2 inhibitors may be beneficial for HFpEF patients, especially in diabetic patients.

Biomolecular Mechanisms of Cardiorenal Protection with Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, primarily from cardiovascular and renal diseases. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) are novel drugs for the treatment of type 2 DM and heart failure (HF). SGLT2-Is mediate protective effects on both the renal and cardiovascular systems. This review addresses the current knowledge on the biomolecular mechanisms of the cardiorenal protective effects of SGLT2-Is, which appear to act mainly through non-glucose-mediated pathways. Cardiorenal protection mechanisms lead to reduced chronic renal disease progression and improved myocardial and coronary endothelial function. Concomitantly, it is possible to observe reflected changes in biomarkers linked with diabetic kidney disease and HF.

Cost effectiveness analyses of pharmacological treatments in heart failure

In a rapidly growing and aging population, heart failure (HF) has become recognised as a public health concern that imposes high economic and societal costs worldwide. HF management stems from the use of highly cost-effective angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and β-blockers to the use of newer drugs such as sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), ivabradine, and vericiguat. Modelling studies of pharmacological treatments that report on cost effectiveness in HF is important in order to guide clinical decision making. Multiple cost-effectiveness analysis of dapagliflozin for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) suggests that it is not only cost-effective and has the potential to improve long-term clinical outcomes, but is also likely to meet conventional cost-effectiveness thresholds in many countries. Similar promising results have also been shown for vericiguat while a cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) of empagliflozin has shown cost effectiveness in HF patients with Type 2 diabetes. Despite the recent FDA approval of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in HF, it might take time for these SGLT2i to be widely used in real-world practice. A recent economic evaluation of vericiguat found it to be cost effective at a higher cost per QALY threshold than SGLT2i. However, there is a lack of clinical or real-world data regarding whether vericiguat would be prescribed on top of newer treatments or in lieu of them. Sacubitril/valsartan has been commonly compared to enalapril in cost effectiveness analysis and has been found to be similar to that of SGLT2i but was not considered a cost-effective treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in Thailand and Singapore with the current economic evaluation evidences. In order for more precise analysis on cost effectiveness analysis, it is necessary to take into account the income level of various countries as it is certainly easier to allocate more financial resources for the intervention, with greater effectiveness, in high- and middle-income countries than in low-income countries. This review aims to evaluate evidence and cost effectiveness studies in more recent HF drugs i.e., SGLT2i, ARNi, ivabradine, vericiguat and omecamtiv, and gaps in current literature on pharmacoeconomic studies in HF.

Epi-Drugs in Heart Failure

Unveiling the secrets of genome's flexibility does not only foster new research in the field, but also gives rise to the exploration and development of novel epigenetic-based therapies as an approach to alleviate disease phenotypes. A better understanding of chromatin biology (DNA/histone complexes) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has enabled the development of epigenetic drugs able to modulate transcriptional programs implicated in cardiovascular diseases. This particularly applies to heart failure, where epigenetic networks have shown to underpin several pathological features, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and microvascular dysfunction. Targeting epigenetic signals might represent a promising approach, especially in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where prognosis remains poor and breakthrough therapies have yet to be approved. In this setting, epigenetics can be employed for the development of customized therapeutic approaches thus paving the way for personalized medicine. Even though the beneficial effects of epi-drugs are gaining attention, the number of epigenetic compounds used in the clinical practice remains low suggesting that more selective epi-drugs are needed. From DNA-methylation changes to non-coding RNAs, we can establish brand-new regulations for drug targets with the aim of restoring healthy epigenomes and transcriptional programs in the failing heart. In the present review, we bring the timeline of epi-drug discovery and development, thus highlighting the emerging role of epigenetic therapies in heart failure.

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.

Benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on survival outcome is related to the type of heart failure: A meta-analysis

AIMS

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors in different types of heart failure (HF).

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SGLT-2 inhibitors with placebo in patients with HF were searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library database, and clinicaltrials.gov. A random-effects model was used for evidence synthesis. The primary endpoint was cardiac death.

RESULTS

We included 13 studies (12 RCTs). In patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced the composite endpoint of cardiac death or rehospitalization because of HF (HHF) (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.70-0.87, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001) and that of HHF (HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.64-0.85, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001) but not that of cardiac death (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.80-1.28, I2 = 23.9%, P = 0.943). In patients with HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced the composite endpoint of cardiac death or HHF (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.69-0.82, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001) and the individual endpoints of cardiac death (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.75-0.95, I2 = 0%, P = 0.007) and HHF (HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.62-0.77, I2 = 0%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced the risk of cardiac death in patients with HFrEF but not in those with HFpEF.

The Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SLGT-2i) on Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Non-diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review

Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are the leading causes of mortality. Despite medical advances, these illnesses are still underdiagnosed and undermanaged. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have recently emerged as a potential class of medications with promising cardiovascular and renal safety in non-diabetic patients. In this systematic review, we explored the outcomes of cardiovascular and renal protective effects utilizing SGLT-2i in three large randomized clinical trials with a cohort of both diabetes and non-diabetes patients. In these studies, data conferred that there is a significant reduction in heart failure (HF) hospitalization, as well as cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Moreover, SGLT-2i impede the progression to and death from CKD. Additionally, we reviewed trials solely done on non-diabetics which demonstrated benefits in patients with established HF with reduced ejection fraction, though the fact that these studies had a smaller sample size. We also discussed some of the potential mechanisms of action of SGLT-2i on cardiovascular and renal outcomes that are beyond anti-hyperglycemic control. There is ongoing research involving a larger number of non-diabetes patients that may provide more information about the efficacy of these drugs besides anti-diabetic medications in the future. Finally, this is the first systematic review that has provided a perspective on the currently available trials, which offer evidence supporting the potential benefits of SGLT-2i on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in non-diabetic individuals.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A protocol for meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (EF) and the mortality and morbidity of patients with HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) are high. Patients with HFpEF are often elderly and their primary chronic symptom is severe exercise intolerance that results in a reduced quality of life. Thus, improvement of exercise capacity presents another important clinical outcome in HFpEF patients. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs reported that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HF with reduced EF. Although the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients have been examined in multiple RCTs, the results are inconsistent due partly to limited power. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients.

METHODS

This meta-analysis will include RCTs examining the effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors on HF severity and health-related quality of life in HFpEF patients. Information of studies will be collected from electronic databases. The primary outcome will be HF severity (plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels and exercise capacity assessed as 6-minute walk distance). The secondary outcome will be health-related quality of life. The safety outcomes will be all-cause death, HF hospitalization, hypotension, acute renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, and urinary tract infection.

DISCUSSION

This meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors in HFpEF patients, providing evidence to the clinical use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in these patients.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

INPLASY2021120033.