Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibition and Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract The choice of appropriate therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes is currently based on the effect of available pharmacologic agents on metabolic parameters. Beyond metformin, much uncertainty remains about the cardioprotective properties of several antidiabetic agents. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are the latest addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for type 2 diabetes. Apart from effective glycemic control, these agents have also favorable effects on body weight and blood pressure. For dapagliflozin and canagliflozin, large cardiovascular outcome trials are still ongoing whereas for empagliflozin, recent findings show a remarkable reduction in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality which is probably attributed to osmotic diuresis and the associated volume contraction. Awaiting clarification of the biologic mechanisms that underlie the effects of empagliflozin, future treatment algorithms might need to be revised in order to incorporate this compelling evidence.
Source: Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research