Anti-diabetic drugs for preventing atrial fibrillation: a new revolution?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are two of the great epidemics of our time. DM affects and estimated 8.5% of adults in the US1, and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including AF.2 AF in turn affects an estimated up to 12.5% of adults over age 65 years in the US, decreases quality of life and increases the risks of heart failure, stroke and death 3,4. In 2015, the EMPA-REG OUTCOME randomized controlled trial (RCT), assessing a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT-2i), sparked interest in the therapeutic potential for oral anti-diabetic agents to reduce cardiovascular outcomes 5.
Source: Heart Rhythm - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research