Beneficial cardiovascular and remodeling effects of SGLT 2 inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Introduction

This paper intended to review the data regarding the multipotential effects of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT 2) inhibitors, their cardiovascular effects, and their mechanism of action.

Areas covered

The SGLT2 inhibitors exert their beneficial antidiabetic and cardioprotective effects through increased glucose excretion from the kidneys, blood pressure and weight lowering, vasodilation and other potential beneficial effects. They have been used for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary artery disease (CAD),and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). To get a better understanding of their mechanism of action for their multiple cardiovascular protective effects, a Medline search of the English language literature was conducted between 2015 and February 2022 and 46 pertinent papers were selected.

Expert opinion

The analysis of data clearly demonstrated that the use of the SGLT2 inhibitors besides their antidiabetic effects, provide additional protection against CVD, CAD, and HFrEF and HFpEF, and death, but not stroke, in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Therefore, they should be preferably used for the treatment of patients with T2DM with preexisting CVD, CAD, and HFrEF and HFpEF

KEYWORDS:

• SGLT2 inhibitors
• diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• coronary artery disease
• heart failure
• death

Acknolowledgement

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Lisa Marie Zerrella, chief librarian of INTEGRIS Baptist Medical center library for her help in retrieving some of the manuscripts used in this review.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with anyorganization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict withthe subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includesemployment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, experttestimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationshipsor otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.