Diabetes and the heart in 2020: Research in SGLT2 inhibitors, prevention and more

Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list of the top news of 2020 in diabetes and the heart.

Studies on SGLT2 inhibitors for HF with reduced ejection fraction were popular last year. Readers were also interested in the occurrence of HF after diabetes diagnosis; treatment of diabetes and concomitant CAD; the impact of alcohol intake on diabetes and hypertension and more.

FDA approves dapagliflozin for HFrEF regardless of diabetes status

AstraZeneca announced the FDA has approved its SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin to reduce risk for CV death and HF hospitalization in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction with and without type 2 diabetes. Read more

HF after diabetes diagnosis raises 5-year mortality risk, lowers life span

Patients who developed HF at any time after their diabetes diagnosis had the greatest relative and absolute risk for death at 5 years compared with those with diabetes who had other CV or renal diagnoses, researchers reported. Read more

Empagliflozin lowers CV death, hospitalizations in HFrEF with or without diabetes

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improved CV and renal outcomes in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, regardless of diabetes status, according to results of the EMPEROR-Reduced trial. Read more

Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes may prevent CVD, diabetes

All sugar-sweetened beverage tax designs, including volume, tiered and absolute sugar content taxes, have potential to generate substantial health gains with regard to CVD and diabetes in addition to cost savings, a study found. Read more

AHA: SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists offer cardiorenal protection

Trials of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, typically treatments for type 2 diabetes, have demonstrated potential CV and kidney benefits, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Read more

AHA: Aggressive treatment may benefit patients with diabetes, CAD

The treatment of CAD in patients with type 2 diabetes may need to be more aggressive compared with those without diabetes to reduce the risk for MI and other complications, according to an American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation. Read more

Dapagliflozin cuts renal, CV events in CKD, regardless of diabetes status

In the DAPA-CKD trial, treatment with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced risk for worsening renal function and death due to CVD or renal disease in patients with chronic kidney disease, both with and without type 2 diabetes. Read more

Degree of alcohol intake corresponds to hypertension risk in diabetes

Moderate and heavy alcohol consumption were linked with hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated CV risk, researchers found. Read more

Braunwald: SGLT2 inhibitors have influenced CV care regardless of diabetes status

Two paradigm shifts have established SGLT2 inhibitors as an important drug class to treat cardiac dysfunction and HF with reduced ejection fraction in patients with and without diabetes, according to a presentation. Read more

Elevated BP, diabetes, obesity accelerate vascular aging in teens

Patients with elevated systolic BP, type 2 diabetes and obesity in early life had an accelerated progression of risk factors associated with early vascular aging, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Read more