Effects and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors compared to placebo in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) prognosis without therapy is poor, however introduction of a range of drugs has improved it. We aimed to perform a systematic review on the effects and safety of sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in HF patients. METHODS: We carried out a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on SGLT2i compared to placebo for HF patients. We searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE, with no language restriction, from inception to 31 August 2020. We included nine RCTs comprising three arms (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin and placebo). Effects sizes for continuous variables were expressed as mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Effects sizes for dichotomous variables were expresses as risk ratio (RR) and 95% CIs. We used random-effect models with the inverse variance method. We performed subgroup meta-analyses by intervention drug and follow-up period. RESULTS: SGLT2i significantly reduced all-cause mortality (RR: 0.88, 95%CI 0.79-0.98, I2 = 0%), cardiovascular mortality (RR: 0.87, 95%CI 0.77-0.99, I2 = 0%), HF hospitalization (RR: 0.73, 95%CI 0.66-0.81, I2 = 0%) and emergency room visits due to HF (RR: 0.40, 95%CI 0.21-0.76, I2 = 0%), as well as composite outcomes including the previous ones. Besides, it significantly improved the score of the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ, MD: 1.70, 95%CI 1.67-1.73, I2 = 54%). SGLT2i reduced any serious adverse events, blood pressure and weight.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Strategy for Mitigating DKA Risk in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes on Adjunctive Treatment with SGLT Inhibitors: A STICH Protocol
- Glucoraphanin: a broccoli sprout extract that ameliorates obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance
- SGLT2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure: Targeted Metabolomics and Energetic Metabolism
- Mechanisms of blood pressure reduction with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors
- Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors: beyond glycaemic control
- Decoding the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiac arrhythmias in heart failure
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.