Cardiovascular Safety of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors as Add-on to Metformin Monotherapy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

Objective

Evaluate the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Methods

Articles of SGLT2i on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were searched. Two authors independently screened the literature, extracted the data, assessed the quality of the study and performed statistical analyses using Review Manager 5.4.

Results

Random-effect model was used to merge the OR values, and the pooled effect showed that SGLT2i had significant preventive effects on cardiovascular death (OR=0.76, 95%CI 0.64 to 0.89), myocardial infarction (OR=0.90, 95%CI 0.84 to 0.96), heart failure (OR=0.69, 95%CI 0.64 to 0.74) and all-cause mortality (OR=0.65, 95%CI 0.58 to 0.73). Empagliflozin, dapagliflozin and canagliflozin all reduced the incidence of heart failure (OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.64 to 0.82; OR=0.56, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.80; OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.53 to 0.73), but only dapagliflozin displayed a favorable effect on inhibiting stroke (OR=0.78, 95%CI 0.63 to 0.98). SGLT2i could prevent stroke (OR=0.86, 95%CI 0.75 to 0.99), heart failure (OR=0.63, 95%CI 0.56 to 0.70) and all-cause mortality (OR=0.64, 95%CI 0.57 to 0.72) compared to DPP-4i. Furthermore, SGLT2i could reduce the incidence of heart failure (OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.67 to 0.77) and cardiovascular death (OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.54 to 0.95) in patients with high-risk factors.

Conclusions

SGLT2i affects cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, heart failure and all-cause mortality. Only dapagliflozin displayed a favorable effect on inhibiting stroke. SGLT2i could prevent stroke, heart failure and all-cause mortality compared to DPP-4i. In addition, SGLT2i significantly reduced the development of heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with high-risk factors.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42024532783.

Advances in Research on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Targets and Therapeutic Agents

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic multifaceted disease with multiple potential complications, the treatment of which can only delay and prolong the terminal stage of the disease, i.e., type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The World Health Organization predicts that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. Although many antidiabetic medicines have been successfully developed in recent years, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors, single-target drugs are gradually failing to meet the therapeutic requirements owing to the individual variability, diversity of pathogenesis, and organismal resistance. Therefore, there remains a need to investigate the pathogenesis of T2DM in more depth, identify multiple therapeutic targets, and provide improved glycemic control solutions. This review presents an overview of the mechanisms of action and the development of the latest therapeutic agents targeting T2DM in recent years. It also discusses emerging target-based therapies and new potential therapeutic targets that have emerged within the last three years. The aim of our review is to provide a theoretical basis for further advancement in targeted therapies for T2DM.

Evaluation and Management of Patients With Diabetes and Heart Failure: A Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Heart Failure Consensus Statement

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of heart failure. Furthermore, the prognosis of heart failure is worse in patients with diabetes mellitus than in those without it. Therefore, early diagnosis and proper management of heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus are important. This review discusses the current criteria for diagnosis and screening tools for heart failure and the currently recommended pharmacological therapies for heart failure. We also highlight the effects of anti-diabetic medications on heart failure.

Evaluation and Management of Patients with Diabetes and Heart Failure: A Korean Diabetes Association and Korean Society of Heart Failure Consensus Statement

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of heart failure. Furthermore, the prognosis of heart failure is worse in patients with diabetes mellitus than in those without it. Therefore, early diagnosis and proper management of heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus are important. This review discusses the current criteria for diagnosis and screening tools for heart failure and the currently recommended pharmacological therapies for heart failure. We also highlight the effects of anti-diabetic medications on heart failure.

Using real-world data for supporting regulatory decision making: Comparison of cardiovascular and safety outcomes of an empagliflozin randomized clinical trial versus real-world data

Aims: In countries where a randomized clinical trial (RCT) is difficult to perform, a real-world evidence (RWE) study with a design similar to an RCT may be an option for drug regulatory decision-making. In this study, the objective was to find out to what extent the safety of empagliflozin from the RWE study in Korea is different from the one in RCT by emulating the design of foreign RCT. The outcome covers various safety outcomes including cardiovascular safety.

Methods: The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (NCT01131676) was selected for comparison. The inclusion/exclusion criteria and follow-up method for the RWE were matched to the comparison RCT. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were used as a primary outcome and 15 other outcomes were also included for analysis.

Result: We followed 23,126 matched patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (11,563 empagliflozin users and 11,563 sitagliptin users) for 2.7 years (median). Empagliflozin use was associated with a significantly decreased risk of MACEs [EMPA-REG DUPLICATE RWE: adjusted HR 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.96]. The predefined estimate agreement, regulatory agreement, and standardized difference for RCT duplication were achieved [EMPA-REG OUTCOME RCT: adjusted HR 0.86, 95% (CI) 0.74–0.99]. According to the predefined criteria for 15 outcomes, 10 outcomes were evaluated as good, and three as moderate.

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that RWE in one country in comparison with an RCT has the potential for providing evidence for future regulatory decision-making in an environment where RCT could not be performed.

Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Hospitalization for Heart Failure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Atrial Fibrillation

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been shown to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and high cardiovascular risks. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with T2DM and atrial fibrillation (AF). Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified 40,268 patients with T2DM and AF who were newly prescribed oral hypoglycemic drugs (2,977 patients with SGLT2 inhibitors and 37,291 patients without SGLT2 inhibitors) between 2014 and 2018. After 1: 4 propensity score matching, patients who received SGLT2 inhibitors (n = 2,958) and those who did not receive SGLT2 inhibitors (n = 10,691) were enrolled, and followed up until December 31, 2018. During a mean follow-up duration of 2.1 ± 1.4 years, the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events was similar between the 2 groups (hazard ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76 to 1.21). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups for cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke. However, patients who received SGLT2 inhibitors had significantly lower risks of hospitalization for heart failure (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.93) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.98) than those who did not receive SGLT2 inhibitors. In conclusion, in this real-world cohort of Asian patients with T2DM and AF, use of SGLT2 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure.

The Impact of Novel Anti-Diabetic Medications on CV Outcomes: A New Therapeutic Horizon for Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Cardiac Patients

It is estimated that in the past two decades the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes mellites (DM) has doubled. Despite significant progress in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including novel anti-platelet agents, effective lipid-lowering medications, and advanced revascularization techniques, patients with DM still are least twice as likely to die of cardiovascular causes compared with their non-diabetic counterparts, and current guidelines define patients with DM at the highest risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Over the last few years, there has been a breakthrough in anti-diabetic therapeutics, as two novel anti-diabetic classes have demonstrated cardiovascular benefit with consistently reduced MACE, and for some agents, also improvement in heart failure status as well as reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These include the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. The benefits of these medications are thought to be derived not only from their anti-diabetic effect but also from additional mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to provide the everyday clinician a detailed review of the various agents within each class with regard to their specific characteristics and the effects on MACE and cardiovascular outcomes.

Cardioprotective effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors versus sulfonylureas in addition to metformin: A nationwide cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

Cardiovascular effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) versus sulfonylureas (SU) remain controversial in observational studies. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of DPP4i on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, malignant dysrhythmia, and revascularisation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a nationwide cohort study using claims data from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan from 2007 to 2013. We enrolled type 2 diabetes patients who received DPP4i or SU in addition to metformin. DPP4i users were matched to SU users using propensity scores at a ratio of 1:1. The study outcomes were hospitalisation for MACE, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, coronary revascularisation, and hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

There were 37,317 matched pairs of DPP4i and SU users with a mean follow-up of 2.1 years. Compared with SU users, DPP4i users showed a significantly lower risk of hospitalisation for MACE (HR 0.79 [95% CI 0.75-0.82]), heart failure (0.86 [0.79-0.93]), acute myocardial infarction (0.76 [0.68-0.92]), and cerebrovascular disease (0.72 [0.67-0.77]). Both sitagliptin (0.89 [0.85-0.94]) and vildagliptin ([0.77 [0.60-0.99]) showed a significantly lower risk of hospitalisation for MACE, but saxagliptin showed a borderline significantly higher risk of hospitalisation for heart failure (1.59 [1.00-2.55]).

CONCLUSIONS

DPP4i showed better cardioprotective effects than SU, especially among patients receiving sitagliptin or vildagliptin.

The effect of sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors on mortality and heart failure in randomized trials versus observational studies

AIM

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) allocating type 2 diabetes patients to treatment with sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors or placebo have found significant effects on the risk of heart failure and modest effects on mortality. In the wake of the first trials, a number of observational studies have been conducted, some of these reporting a mortality reduction of 50% compared to active comparators. In this review, we systematically assess and compare the results on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization observed in RCTs with the results obtained in observational studies.

METHOD

We performed a systematic bibliographical search including cardiovascular outcome trials and observational studies assessing the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on mortality and heart failure.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs and 23 observational studies were included in the current review. The observed heterogeneity between study results for all-cause mortality (p-interaction < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (p-interaction < 0.001) was explained by study type, whereas this was not the case for heart failure (p-interaction = 0.18).

CONCLUSION

Methodological considerations such as the omission of important confounders, immortal-time bias and residual confounding such as unmeasured social economic inequality may be the cause of the inflated results observed in observational studies and that calls for caution when observational studies are used to guide treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors versus DPP-4 inhibitors. An Italian real-world study in the context of other observational studies

AIMS

We compared cardiovascular outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) receiving sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) under routine care.

METHODS

From an administrative claims database of >5.2M citizen, we identified patients with T2D who initiated SGLT2i or DPP4i from 2014 to 2018. Patients were matched by propensity scores. The primary outcome was the 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3P-MACE).

RESULTS

After matching, we included 3216 patients/group, with mean age of 63 years, diabetes duration of 8.7 years, and 20% had cardiovascular disease. During a median follow-up of 18 months, the rate of 3P-MACE was lower among patients who initiated SGLT2i versus DPP4i (HR 0.74; 95 %C.I. 0.58-0.94). Initiators of SGLT2i also showed significantly lower rates of myocardial infarction (HR 0.75; 95 %C.I. 0.56-1.00), hospitalization for heart failure (HR 0.44; 95 %C.I. 0.25-0.95) or cardiovascular causes (HR 0.72; 95 %C.I. 0.60-0.87), and all-cause death (HR 0.49; 95 %C.I. 0.25-0.95). Renal failure was less common with SGLT2i than with DPP4i. Results were consistent to those obtained in a meta-analysis of 10 observational studies on ~1.5M patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2D who initiated SGLT2i under routine care had better cardio-renal outcomes and lower all-cause mortality than similar patients who initiated DPP4i.