Does Jardiance (empagliflozin) help with heart failure?

From the Guidelines

Yes, Jardiance (empagliflozin) helps with heart failure, as it has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure by about 21% to 35% in clinical trials 1. The medication works through several mechanisms: it promotes glucose excretion through the urine, reduces sodium reabsorption in the kidneys leading to improved fluid balance, decreases blood pressure, and may have direct beneficial effects on the heart muscle and blood vessels.

Key Benefits of Jardiance for Heart Failure

• Reduces the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure
• Improves fluid balance and decreases blood pressure
• May have direct beneficial effects on the heart muscle and blood vessels

Important Considerations

• Common side effects include genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections
• Patients should maintain adequate hydration while taking this medication and be aware that it may cause a temporary decrease in kidney function when starting treatment
• Blood pressure should be monitored regularly, as Jardiance can cause hypotension, especially in patients taking diuretics or other blood pressure medications The EMPEROR-Reduced trial, which is one of the most recent and highest quality studies, demonstrated a 21% reduction in the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure with empagliflozin treatment compared to placebo 1.

Clinical Trial Evidence

• The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial showed a 35% reduction in hospitalization for heart failure with empagliflozin treatment compared to placebo 1
• The CANVAS and DECLARE-TIMI 58 trials showed 33% and 27% reductions in hospitalization for heart failure with SGLT2 inhibitor use compared to placebo 1
• The DAPA-HF trial demonstrated a lower risk of the primary outcome of a composite of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death with dapagliflozin treatment compared to placebo 1

From the Research

Jardiance and Heart Failure

• Jardiance (empagliflozin) has been shown to have a beneficial effect on heart failure in several studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial demonstrated that empagliflozin has cardioprotective properties, reducing the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease 2.
• The EMPEROR-Preserved and EMPEROR-Reduced trials showed that empagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction 3.
• Empagliflozin has been approved for the treatment of symptomatic chronic heart failure in the EU and USA, and is considered a valuable treatment option for ambulant patients with symptomatic heart failure across a broad left ventricular ejection fraction spectrum 3, 6.

Mechanism of Action

• Empagliflozin acts as a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, which has been shown to have a diuretic effect and reduce the risk of heart failure in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease 5.
• The exact mechanism of action of empagliflozin in heart failure is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to its ability to reduce cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for heart failure, rather than its hypoglycemic effect 5.

Benefits and Risks

• Empagliflozin has been shown to improve health-related quality of life and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure 3, 6.
• However, empagliflozin can cause adverse effects such as genital infections, kidney failure, and diabetic ketoacidosis, and may interact with other medications 5.
• The benefits and risks of empagliflozin should be carefully considered in each individual patient, and the medication should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional 5, 6.