Research

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalisation and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, their effects on cardiac structure and function in HFrEF are uncertain. This is a multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the cardiac effects of empagliflozin in patients in NYHA functional class II to IV with a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ≤40% and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

Results: The trial showed that SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduced LV volumes in patients with HFrEF and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Favourable reverse LV remodelling may be a mechanism by which SGLT2 inhibitors reduce HF hospitalisation and mortality in HFrEF.

Chief Investigator

• Prof Naveed Sattar

Co-Investigators

• Mark Petrie
• Ross Campbell
• Dr Kieran F. Docherty
• Dr Ninian Lang
• Dr Matthew Lee
• Dr Clare Murphy

Trial Co-Ordinator

• Dr Katriona Brooksbank

Link to trial: Clinical Trials.Gov

Recruitment status: COMPLETE

Outputs: 

Effect of Empagliflozin on Left Ventricular Volumes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, or Prediabetes, and Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (SUGAR-DM-HF): www.ahajournals.org