Pharmaceutics (Aug 2022)

The New Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in the Management of Heart Failure: Current Evidence and Future Perspective

  • Saverio Muscoli,
  • Francesco Barillà,
  • Rojin Tajmir,
  • Marco Meloni,
  • David Della Morte,
  • Alfonso Bellia,
  • Nicola Di Daniele,
  • Davide Lauro,
  • Aikaterini Andreadi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081730
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 8
p. 1730

Abstract

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The sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a relatively new class of medication used in the management of type 2 diabetes. Recent clinical trials and research have demonstrated this class’s effectiveness in treating heart failure, since they reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalization, and mortality. The mechanism by which they do so is unclear; however, SGLT2i inhibit the tubular reabsorption of glucose, lowering the interstitial volume. This mechanism leads to a reduction in blood pressure and an improvement of endothelial function. As a result, improvements in hospitalization and mortality rate have been shown. In this review, we focus on the primary outcome of the clinical trials designed to investigate the effect of SGLT2i in heart failure, regardless of patients’ diabetic status. Furthermore, we compare the various SGLT2i regarding their risk reduction to investigate their potential as a treatment option for patients with reduced ejection fraction and preserved ejection fraction.

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