Sodium-glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors: a New Path for Heart Failure Treatment

Sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT) is a membrane protein that supplies sodium ions (Na⁺) and glucose like as glucose transporter. In human, there are 6 types of SGLT and, among which SGLT1 and SGLT2 are known to be involved in glucose resorption in the intestinal mucosa (mainly for SGLT1) or proximal tubule of the renal nephron (mainly for SGLT2).1) SGLT1 is mainly located in the small intestine and plays an important role in the absorption of galactose, in addition to glucose. SGLT2 is primarily distributed in the kidney and is responsible for 90% of renal glucose resorption.2) Under physiological conditions, 180 g of glucose are filtered and completely reabsorbed by the renal tubules. In diabetic patients, glucose can be found in the urine when hyperglycemia.3) Whereas SGLT1 transports 2 Na⁺ per one molecule of glucose and SGLT2 transports 1 Na⁺, SGLT2 can co-localize with the renal Na⁺/hydrogen exchanger (NHE3), responsible for Na⁺ reabsorption in the proximal tubule.4) SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may cross-react with this NHE3 so inhibit Na⁺ reabsorption and increase natriuresis.

In general, the glucose-lowering ability of SGLT2i through urinary glucose excretion can decrease hemoglobin A1c modestly (from 0.5% to 1.0%) in patients with diabetes. The glucosuric effect of SGLT2i depends on the blood glucose concentration. So hypoglycemia risk following SGLT2i use is low compared to other glucose-lowering drugs.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high risk of heart failure (HF), about 20–30% found in diabetes clinical practice and had higher rates of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) with higher mortality.5) SGLT2i exert consistent favorable effects on the HFH across all trials.6) However, these drugs have inconsistent results on mortality. Depending on the trial, empagliflozin reduced the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death by 38% but by only 2% in the trial with dapagliflozin in T2DM.7), 8)

Not only are patients with T2DM at higher risk for HF, patients with HF are also at high risk for recurrent HFH, high CV mortality, and worsening of renal function with poor quality of life. The combined risk of HFH or CV death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), was reduced by 25% with dapagliflozin or empagliflozin, mainly driven by a reduction of HFH.9), 10)

These benefits of SGLT2i relatively on short-term follow-up cannot be explained by their glucose–lowering effects. Therefore, it is important to find out the crucial mechanism of SGLT2i by carrying out large-scale trials in patients with various phenotype of T2DM and well-characterized HF who are on guideline-directed medical therapy including the device therapy.

SGLT2i have demonstrated unanticipated cardiorenal benefits in several large randomized clinical trials of patients who have T2DM and either established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or multiple CV risk factors. The effect of SGLT2i on non-fatal HF events or CV death is summarized in 5 cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT) with 5 different agents in T2DM, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1
Key characteristics of cardiovascular outcome trials for SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes mellitus

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The first SGLT2i with the COVT result was empagliflozin through the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial.7) The study enrolled 7,020 T2DM patients with established ASCVD such as coronary and peripheral artery disease, and followed up for 3.1 years. This trial showed a significant 14% reduction in the primary composite outcome (major adverse cardiac events) including CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and nonfatal stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74–0.99, p=0.04 for superiority). This clinical benefit was primarily driven by a 38% reduction of CV death (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.49–0.77). The clinical effect of empagliflozin on nonfatal MI or stroke was neutral, so the CV mortality reduction by empagliflozin seems to be largely related to the HFH reduction (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50–0.85). Interestingly, these benefits on CV mortality and HFH was found early after empagliflozin treatment initiation (within 12 weeks after randomization).11) Following this unanticipated finding, many researchers have paid attention to the direct myocardial protective effect of SGLT2i. More detailed explanation for mechanism of cardiorenal effects of SGLT2i was reviewed well in recent publication.3), 12)

After empagliflozin became the first drug to show beneficial effects in T2DM patients with high CV risk, the CVOT of additional SGLT2i followed and confirmed the benefit of SGLT2i. The CANVAS program using canagliflozin enrolled 10,142 diabetic patients with and without established ASCVD (positive for multiple risk factors), and followed up for 3.6 years.13) This trial demonstrated a significant 14% reduction in the primary composite outcome including CV death, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.75–0.97, p=0.02 for superiority). The clinical effect of canagliflozin on each separate primary outcome was all neutral, and only HFH was significantly reduced by canagliflozin (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52–0.87). In addition, canagliflozin reduced the composite of HFH or CV death by 22% (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67–0.91).

The DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial using dapagliflozin enrolled 17,160 diabetic patients with and without established ASCVD, and followed up for 4.2 years.8) This trial failed to show a significant reduction in the primary composite outcome including CV death, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84–1.03; p=0.17). The clinical effect of canagliflozin on each separate primary outcome was all neutral, and only HFH was significantly reduced by dapagliflozin (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61–0.88). Like canagliflozin, dapagliflozin also reduced the composite of HFH or CV death by 17% (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75–0.95). However, in comparison with 38% reduction of CV death in the CVOT using empagliflozin, but only 2% was noted in the trial with dapagliflozin.

The VERTIS CV trial using ertugliflozin enrolled 8,246 diabetic patients with established ASCVD, and followed up for 3.5 years.14) The trial also failed to show a significant reduction in the primary composite outcome including CV death, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85–1.11). The clinical effect of ertugliflozin on each separate primary outcome was all neutral, and only HFH event was significantly reduced by ertugliflozin (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54–0.90). However, the benefit on the composite of HFH or CV death was not nominally significant with ertugliflozin (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75–1.03).

The latest SGLT2i to report CVOT is sotagliflozin in the SCORED trial.15) The study enrolled 10,584 type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease patients with and without established ASCVD, and followed up for 1.3 years because of early termination owing to loss of funding. The primary end point was changed to the composite of the total number of CV death, HFH, and urgent visits for HF during the trial. This trial demonstrated a significant 26% reduction in the primary composite (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63–0.88). This clinical benefit of ertugliflozin was primarily driven by a 33% reduction of total number of HFH and urgent visits for HF (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.55–0.82) but the CV mortality reduction by sotagliflozin was neutral (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.73–1.12).

Although these CVOTs seem to be similar, we could find some discrepancies in the baseline characteristics among these trials. Firstly, regarding the inclusion criteria, the trials using empagliflozin, ertugliflozin enrolled 100% established ASCVD, focusing on only the secondary prevention. Whereas, the CVOT using canagliflozin, dapagliflozin enrolled diabetic patients with and without ASCVD, focusing on both the primary and secondary prevention. We could expect higher chance for statistical significance in secondary prevention trial rather than in primary prevention trial considering higher event rates in secondary prevention trials. This hypothesis may explain the neutral clinical benefit of dapagliflozin on primary composite outcome. Secondly, there were 2 phases of enrollment period such as early 2010s (for empagliflozin, canagliflozin) vs. mid 2010s (for dapagliflozin, ertugliflozin). In general, the clinical trials which conducted in relatively late phase, could have lower chance for statistical significance than those in early phase. The limited clinical benefit of ertugliflozin could be resulted from these discrepancies among CVOTs or structure difference among SGLT2i.16) However, all SGLT2i including sotagliflozin, were proved to significantly reduce the risk of HFH in T2DM patients, which confirmed by meta-analysis.17)

In these trials with T2DM patients, lack of information regarding the phenotype of HF or use of concomitant guideline directed medical treatment of HF give us a skeptical interpretation about the significant reduction of risk in HFH. Because the results of these CVOT could be affected by the use of inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system and beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) which showing the survival benefit in HFrEF patients. From the data of EMPA-REG OUTCOME, concomitant use of spironolactone and eplerenone may attenuate the effect of SGLT2i to reduce HF events.18) In addition, it is not clear whether SGLT2i might interact with ARNI.

However, based on these lines of evidences, 2019 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and CV diseases recommended SGLT2i (empagliflozin, canagliflozin, and dapagliflozin) to lower the risk of HFH in patients with T2DM as class I recommendation with level of evidence A.19)

The reduction of the risk of HFH with SGLT2i in patients with T2DM have been demonstrated in all CVOT. This reduction for HFH risk was observed in both patients with and without a previous HF history. However, patients with HF history comprised only small proportions of the COVT populations, especially without documentation for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or natriuretic peptide levels. These effects of SGLT2i on CV outcomes may not be directly related to glycemic control, suggesting that these clinical benefits may extend to non-diabetic patients, especially HF. In addition, the DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial showed that the benefit of CV death or HFH was greater in patients with HFrEF than with HFpEF. Especially, the benefit was remarkable in those with LVEF ≤30%.20) Therefore, the effect of SGLT2i in patients with HF, especially HFrEF was explored in large-scale trials.

The DAPA-HF trial was the first outcome trial to assess the effect of SGLT2i (using dapagliflozin) in HFrEF patients with or without diabetes.9) The definition of HFrEF was LVEF <40% and elevated N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. The trial enrolled 4,744 patients including 2,607 non-DM patients and followed up for 18.2 months. The primary end point was the composite outcome of CV death, HF, and urgent HF-related hospital visits. This trial demonstrated a significant 26% reduction in the primary composite outcome (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65–0.85). This clinical benefit of dapagliflozin was primarily driven by a 30% reduction of HFH and urgent visits for HF (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58–0.85) but surprisingly, the CV mortality was also significantly reduced with dapagliflozin (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69–0.98). Although this trial was conducted in non-diabetic patients with HFrEF, the frequency of adverse events such as volume depletion, renal dysfunction, and hypoglycemia did not differ between dapagliflozin and placebo group.

The EMPEROR-Reduced trial was the following outcome trial to assess the effect of another SGLT2i, empagliflozin in HFrEF patients with or without diabetes.10) The trial enrolled 3,730 patients including 1,856 non-DM patients and followed up for 16 months. The primary end point was the composite outcome of CV death and HFH. This trial demonstrated a significant 25% reduction in the primary composite outcome (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65–0.86). This clinical benefit of empagliflozin was primarily driven by a 30% reduction of HFH and urgent visits for HF (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.59–0.81) but the CV mortality reduction by empagliflozin was neutral (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.75–1.12). In comparison with DAPA-HF trial, EMPEROR-Reduced trial enrolled patients with higher CV risk factors, for example, lower ejection fraction (27% vs. 31%), high level of NT-proBNP (1,900 vs. 1,437 pg/mL) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) (62 vs. 66 mL/min/m²).21) Interestingly, the annual rate of decline in eGFR was significantly slower in the empagliflozin group than placebo (−0.55 vs. −2.28 mL/min/1.73 m²/year).10) In addition, exploratory composite renal endpoint defined as chronic dialysis, renal transplantation, or the onset of a sustained and profound decrease in renal function was significantly reduced by 50% with empagliflozin (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32–0.77). However, in DAPA-HF trial, a composite of renal events was reduced by 29%, which is not nominally significant (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.44–1.26). In contrast, DAPA-HF trial reported a lower risk of CV death with a 18% risk reduction, which is nominally significant and a 8% risk reduction in the EMPEROR-Reduced trial, which is not. This discrepancy might be difficult in the interpretation and conclusion due to heterogeneity of patients’ clinical characteristics and short-term follow up duration, and so on.

The SOLOIST-WHF was the latest outcome trial to assess the effect of SGLT2i, sotagliflozin in HFrEF patients with diabetes who were recently hospitalized for worsening HF.22) The trial enrolled 1,222 patients and followed up for just 9 months because the trial ended early owing to loss of funding from the sponsor. The primary end point was the composite outcome of CV death, HFH and urgent visits for HF. This trial demonstrated a significant 33% reduction in the primary composite outcome (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52–0.85). This clinical benefit of sotagliflozin was also driven by a 30% reduction of HFH and urgent visits for HF (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.49–0.83) but the CV mortality reduction by sotagliflozin was neutral, too (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.58–1.22). However, due to the smaller-sized sample enrolled and shorter follow-up period (only 9 months) than planned, the SOLOIST-WHF trial did not have enough to provide a statistically robust assessment for the effect of sotagliflozin on CV mortality. Regarding adverse events, severe hypoglycemia (1.5% vs. 0.3%) and diarrhea (6.1% vs. 3.4%) were more common with sotagliflozin group than placebo. Especially, a difference in diarrhea event was not reported in the DAPA-HF or EMPEROR-Reduced trial so we could assume that it is related to SGLT1 inhibition in the intestines considering higher affinity for inhibiting SGLT1 by sotagliflozin than dapagliflozin and empagliflozin.21)

Unanticipated success in the SOLOIST-WHF trial may open more questions than answer regarding the role of SGLT1 inhibition in HF. Is a sotagliflozin better for HF than other SGLT2i? Is the big success of sotagliflozin mediated by higher SGLT1 inhibition than dapagliflozin and empagliflozin? Is there any therapeutic role of SGLT1 inhibition in intestines in HF, reflected by increased diarrhea in sotagliflozin group? Any role for helping decongestion of third space or lymphatics? When we consider the SGLT1 expression in heart is the second highest after small intestine and SGLT1 is highly expressed in human cardiomyocytes, we can guess whether there is any other role of SGLT1 in heart just than glucose transport. Further translational research should be warranted to answer these questions.

Comparing the baseline characteristics of 3 trials of SGLT2i in patients with HFrEF (Table 2), the DAPA-HF populations had higher eGFR, lower NT-proBNP level and lower use for ARNI, implantable cardioverter defibrillation, cardiac resynchronization therapy than those from EMPEROR-Reduced and SOLOIST-WHF. The discrepancy in these baseline risk factors may be related to lower event rates, especially HFH events in DAPA-HF trial.

Table 2
Key characteristics of trials for SGLT2i in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

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Combining these 3 HFrEF trials together, recently published meta-analysis showed that SGLT2i could reduce CV death or first HFH (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68–0.81), CV death and total HFH (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67–0.82), CV death (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76–0.97) and all-cause mortality (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77–0.96) in HFrEF patients.21) Following these lines of clinical evidences, we can expect future HF guidelines may strongly recommend SGLT2i for HFrEF patients with or without diabetes.6) It seems to be time for triple therapy to evolve to quadruple therapy including beta-blockers, ARNI, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT2i in HFrEF.23), 24) Recent comparative analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials including EMPHASIS-HF (eplerenone), PARADIGM-HF (sacubitril-valsartan, ARNI) and DAPA-HF (dapagliflozin), supported this quadruple therapy as a new standard for HFrEF treatment.25)

Since 2010, there has not been a drug that can reduce clinical events in patients with HFpEF.26), 27) In January 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded indication to sacubitril-valsartan (ARNI) that would allow for use of the therapy in at least some patients with HFpEF, based on the results from the PARAGON-HF trial.28) The new FDA label includes the following note: “Benefits are most clearly evident in patients with LVEF below normal.”, which supported by further analysis of PARAGON-HF.29), 30) Following the first drug for HFpEF, more attention have been paid to SGLT2i, a next nominee for HFpEF drug. An important uncovered question is whether the observed clinical benefits of SGLT2i is present in HFpEF patients like in T2DM or HFrEF patients. Until now, there have been limited data for SGLT2i in HFpEF. In each of the CVOT, approximately 10–15% of patients had a HF history,31) but the definition for HFrEF or HFpEF and documentation for LVEF were poor in CVOT and real-world evidence.32), 33), 34)

In a post hoc analysis of SOLOIST-WHF, the key subgroup of interest was LVEF <50% vs. ≥50%, which showed a consistent clinical benefit with that in the main results of the trial. Sotagliflozin therapy reduced primary composite outcome in both LVEF <50% (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56–0.94) and LVEF ≥50% (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27–0.86) groups.22) This result could hint at efficacy of SGLT2i in HFpEF similar to that in HFrEF, even though the number of patients with a LVEF ≥50% (n=256) was modest. In a further subgroup analysis regarding LVEF, the HR for the primary composite outcome was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.51–0.92) in patients with a LVEF <40% (n=725) and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.45–1.03) in patients with a LVEF ≥40% (n=494).21)

There are 2 ongoing trials which designed to investigate the clinical effect of SGLT2i in HFpEF patients. The EMPEROR-Preserved trial enrolled 4,126 HFpEF patients to empagliflozin or placebo (NCT03057951),35), 36) and the DELIVER trial enrolled 4,700 patients to dapagliflozin or placebo (NCT01297257); both clinical trials are expected to be completed and reported in 2021–2022.

SGLT2i have been emerged as a powerful therapeutic option to reduce the risk of HF and HFH in patients with T2DM, and to reduce CV mortality and HFH in HFrEF patients with or without T2DM. These favorable benefits of SGLT2i could be attained by taking once daily without up-titration like renin-angiotensin system blockers or beta-blockers. In addition, the risk of hypotension, hyperkalemia, or worsening of renal function, which concerns that often accompany the use of HF medication is relatively low with low risk of other safety issues such as bone fracture, low extremity limb ischemia, and diarrhea. Ongoing study to evaluate the clinical effect of SGLTi for HFpEF may further widen the clinical implication of these novel cardiorenal protective drugs beyond their metabolic effects. Further translational or reverse translational studies should be warranted to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of SGLT2i on protection for heart, kidney and human being.