SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, originally used to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, have become important in treating heart failure (HF), regardless of how well the heart pumps blood (measured by left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF). Initially, a study called EMPA-REG OUTCOME in 2013 showed that empagliflozin, an SGLT-2 inhibitor, reduced hospitalizations for heart failure in diabetic patients. This finding led to further research, confirming that these drugs not only reduce hospital admissions for heart failure but also deaths from heart problems, and these benefits are not just because they lower blood sugar.

Consequently, big trials were done including patients with and without diabetes, proving SGLT-2 inhibitors work well for heart failure. Major health guidelines now recommend using SGLT-2 inhibitors (specifically dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) for certain types of heart failure, irrespective of whether the patient has diabetes. These drugs are taken once daily, and they don't require dose adjustments or frequent lab tests.

SGLT-2 inhibitors have become key treatments for heart failure and work across various degrees of heart pump function. While the exact way they help the heart and kidneys is still being studied, they seem to target multiple body processes. These benefits extend to patients with...