Evaluation of Rehospitalization Rate in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) Treated with Empagliflozin in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Abstract
Empagliflozin has proven efficacy in reducing cardiovascular (CV) death or hospitalization risk for heart failure (HF) patients in the EMPEROR-Reduced trial, revealing potential racial disparities in CV outcomes. In Saudi Arabia, HF patients have higher CV risk factors and are younger in age.
This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in Saudi Arabia from January 2019 to June 2022, assessing rehospitalization rates in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients who received empagliflozin therapy compared to those who did not.
A total of 318 patients were included in the study. Approximately 39.3% of patients experienced at least one hospitalization, with 9.1% having ≥4 hospitalizations. The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) group had significantly lower hospitalization rates than the group not on SGLT2i (29.9% vs. 57.9%, P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for HF hospitalization in the SGLT2i group was 0.38 (95% confidence interval 0.22–0.67, P = 0.001), indicating a noteworthy reduction in hospitalization risk with empagliflozin therapy. There was a significant reduction in median N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) levels in the SGLT2i group compared to the group not on SGLT2i (P = 0.049). The SGLT2i group showed a reduced median left ventricular end-systolic volume (ESV) compared to the group not on SGLT2i (P = 0.006), suggesting a positive impact on cardiac remodeling.
The study findings support the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 318 participants or records.
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