Is Jardiance (Empagliflozin) a good option for congestive heart failure (CHF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and diabetes?

From the Guidelines

Yes, Jardiance (Empagliflozin) is a good option for congestive heart failure (CHF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and diabetes.

Key Benefits of Empagliflozin

• Empagliflozin has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure by 35% compared to placebo in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial 1.
• The EMPEROR-Reduced trial demonstrated a 21% reduction in the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for worsening heart failure with empagliflozin treatment 1.
• Empagliflozin's effects are consistent in people with or without diabetes, making it a beneficial treatment option for patients with CHF and reduced EF, regardless of their diabetes status 1.

Important Considerations

• The use of SGLT2 inhibitors, including empagliflozin, may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, particularly in patients with type 1 diabetes or those with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis 1.
• Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis, and empagliflozin should be used with caution in patients at high risk for this complication.

Clinical Guidelines and Recommendations

• The American Diabetes Association recommends the use of SGLT2 inhibitors, including empagliflozin, in patients with type 2 diabetes and established heart failure to reduce the risk of worsening heart failure and cardiovascular death 1.
• The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines also supports the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure and reduced EF 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

JARDIANCE is a prescription medicine used to: reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure, when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body. The answer is: Yes, Jardiance (Empagliflozin) is a good option for congestive heart failure (CHF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF) and diabetes, as it has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure 2.

From the Research

Efficacy of Jardiance (Empagliflozin) in CHF with Reduced EF and Diabetes

• Empagliflozin has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), regardless of the presence of diabetes 3, 4, 5.
• The EMPEROR-Reduced study demonstrated that empagliflozin reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure by 5.1% compared to placebo, and also reduced the risk of serious kidney problems 3.
• The effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and renal outcomes was consistent in patients with and without diabetes, and across the continuum of HbA1c levels 6, 5.

Safety and Tolerability of Jardiance (Empagliflozin)

• Empagliflozin was generally well-tolerated, with a similar adverse event profile to placebo, except for an increased risk of genital tract infections 3, 4.
• The risk of hypoglycemia was not increased with empagliflozin compared to placebo, even in patients without diabetes 6, 5.

Clinical Implications

• Empagliflozin is a valuable treatment option for patients with symptomatic CHF, including those with reduced ejection fraction and diabetes 4, 7.
• The benefits of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and renal outcomes are independent of baseline diabetes status, making it a useful treatment option for a broad range of patients with CHF 6, 5.