Author: Milton Packer, M.D.,, Stefan D. Anker, M.D., Ph.D.,, Javed Butler, M.D.,, Gerasimos Filippatos, M.D.,, Stuart J. Pocock, Ph.D.,, Peter Carson, M.D.,, James Januzzi, M.D.,, Subodh Verma, M.D., Ph.D.,, Hiroyuki Tsutsui, M.D.,, Martina Brueckmann, M.D.,, Waheed Jamal, M.D.,, Karen Kimura, Ph.D.,, Janet Schnee, M.D.,, Cordula Zeller, Dipl.Math.,, Daniel Cotton, M.S.,, Edimar Bocchi, M.D.,, Michael Bhm, M.D., Ph.D.,, Dong-Ju Choi, M.D.,, Vijay Chopra, M.D.,, Eduardo Chuquiure, M.D.,, Nadia Giannetti, M.D.,, Stefan Janssens, M.D., Ph.D.,, Jian Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.,, Jose R. Gonzalez Juanatey, M.D.,, Sanjay Kaul, M.D.,, Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca, M.D.,, Bela Merkely, M.D.,, Stephen J. Nicholls, M.D.,, Sergio Perrone, M.D.,, Ileana Pina, M.D.,, Piotr Ponikowski, M.D.,, Naveed Sattar, M.D.,, Michele Senni, M.D.,, Marie-France Seronde, M.D.,, Jindrich Spinar, M.D.,, Iain Squire, M.D.,, Stefano Taddei, M.D.,, Christoph Wanner, M.D.,, and Faiez Zannad, M.D., Ph.D.
Issue&Volume: 2020-08-29
Abstract:
Background
Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in patients regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes. More evidence is needed regarding the effects of these drugs in patients across the broad spectrum of heart failure, including those with a markedly reduced ejection fraction.
Methods
In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 3730 patients with class II, III, or IV heart failure and an ejection fraction of 40% or less to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or placebo, in addition to recommended therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure.
Results
During a median of 16 months, a primary outcome event occurred in 361 of 1863 patients (19.4%) in the empagliflozin group and in 462 of 1867 patients (24.7%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio for cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, 0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 0.86; P<0.001). The effect of empagliflozin on the primary outcome was consistent in patients regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes. The total number of hospitalizations for heart failure was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.85; P<0.001). The annual rate of decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate was slower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (–0.55 vs. –2.28 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area per year, P<0.001), and empagliflozin-treated patients had a lower risk of serious renal outcomes. Uncomplicated genital tract infection was reported more frequently with empagliflozin.
Conclusions
Among patients receiving recommended therapy for heart failure, those in the empagliflozin group had a lower risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure than those in the placebo group, regardless of the presence or absence of diabetes.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2022190
Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022190
