Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) – both with and without type 2 diabetes – who are given the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily saw a reduction in heart failure (HF) events and cardiovascular death, according to new results of the DAPA-HF trial presented Nov. 16 during AHA 2019 in Philadelphia, PA.

John J.V. McMurray, MD, FACC, et al., randomized 4,744 HFrEF patients at 410 centers in 20 countries. Patients had a mean age of 66 years, 56 percent had an ischemic etiology and 42 percent had a history of type 2 diabetes. Patients were given 10 mg once daily of dapagliflozin vs. placebo.

Results showed that in patients both with and without type 2 diabetes, dapagliflozin reduced the primary composite outcome of a worsening HF event and death from cardiovascular causes, and "improved symptoms."

The investigators add that "the relative and absolute risk reductions in death and hospitalization were substantial, clinically important, and consistent in patients with and without type 2 diabetes." Further, "dapagliflozin was well tolerated and the rate of treatment discontinuation was low in patients with and without type 2 diabetes."

Moving forward, the authors conclude that "dapagliflozin offers a new approach to the treatment of HFrEF in patients with and without type 2 diabetes."

Keywords: AHA19, AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Primary Prevention, Dyslipidemias, Heart Failure

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