The diabetes medication that could revolutionize heart failure treatment


Date:
December 1, 2021
Source:
University of East Anglia
Summary:
A medication originally used for patients with diabetes is the
first to help people with heart failure and could revolutionize
treatment. Early research had shown that SGLT2 inhibitors could help
around half of heart failure patients -- those with a condition
known as reduction ejection fraction. But a new study shows that
the medication could be beneficial for all heart failure patients --
including those with a second type of heart failure called preserved
ejection fraction.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A medication originally used for patients with diabetes is the first
to help people with heart failure and could revolutionise treatment,
according to new research from the University of East Anglia.


========================================================================== Early research had shown that Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors could help around half of heart failure patients -- those
with a condition known as reduction ejection fraction.

But new findings published today show that the medication could be
beneficial for all heart failure patients -- including those with a
second type of heart failure called preserved ejection fraction.

It is the first drug to provide a real benefit in terms of improving
outcomes for these patients. And the research team say it will
revolutionise treatment options.

Lead researcher Prof Vass Vassiliou, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and
an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "Heart failure is a condition where the heart is not
pumping as well as it should, and it affects about one million people
in the UK.

"There are two types of heart failure. Heart Failure with a reduction in ejection fraction happens when the heart is unable to pump blood round
the body due to a mechanical issue. And heart failure with preserved
ejection fraction happens when, despite the heart pumping out blood well,
it is not sufficient to provide oxygen to all the parts of the body.



========================================================================== "Patients are equally split between the two types of heart failure.

"For many years there was not a single medicine that could improve
the outcome in patients with the second type of heart failure -- those
patients with preserved ejection fraction.

"This type of heart failure had puzzled doctors, as every medicine tested showed no benefit.

"One class of heart medication, called SGLT2 inhibitors, was initially
used for patients with diabetes. However, it was noticed that it also
helped patients who had heart failure.

"Previous studies had shown that this medication would be beneficial in
heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.



==========================================================================
"But we found that it can also help heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction." SGLT2 inhibitors are more commonly known under
their trade-names Forxiga (Dapagliflozin), Invokana (Canagliflozin),
and Jardiance (Empagliflozin).

The research team undertook a meta-analysis of all studies published in
the field and brought together data from almost 10,000 patients. They
used statistical modelling to show the specific effect of these medicines.

Prof Vassiliou said: "We found that patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors
were 22 per cent less likely to die from heart-related causes or be hospitalised for heart failure exacerbation than those taking placebo.

"This is very important because this is the first medication that can
provide a benefit to this previously untreatable group of patients --
in terms of heart- related deaths or hospitalisation.

"This is the first medication that can really improve the outcomes for
this patient group and it will revolutionise the treatment offered to
heart failure patients," he added.

This study was led by researchers at UEA in collaboration with the
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Imperial College London and
Imperial College NHS Trust, and Cambridge University Hospitals.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_East_Anglia. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Vasiliki Tsampasian, Hussein Elghazaly, Rahul Chattopadhyay,
Omar Ali,
Natasha Corballis, Panagiota Anna Chousou, Allan Clark, Pankaj Garg,
Vassilios S Vassiliou. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors
in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic
review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology,
2021; DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwab189 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211201085200.htm

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