Empagliflozin improves cognitive impairment in frail diabetics with HFpEF: Study

Written By : Medha Baranwal |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-04-01T10:45:14+05:30 | Updated On 1 April 2022 10:47 AM IST

Italy: SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cognitive and physical impairment in frail older adults with type 2 diabetes and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a recent study has found. The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care on March 21, 2022.

Previous studies have shown that frail patients with diabetes and HFpEF have a higher risk of cognitive and physical impairment. Empagliflozin is an SGLT2 inhibitor that is part of the newest class of oral hypoglycemic agents, which includes dapagliflozin and canagliflozin.

The prospective study was designed by Pasquale Mone, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Avellino, Avellino, Italy, and colleagues with an aim to assess whether the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin improves cognitive impairment in frail older adults with diabetes and HFpEF, comparing the effects of metformin, empagliflozin, and insulin.

The study was successfully completed by a total of 162 frail older adults with HFpEF and diabetes.

Key findings of the study include:

Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores at baseline and after 1 month were 19.80 ± 3.77 vs. 22.25 ± 3.27 in the empagliflozin group, 19.95 ± 3.81 vs. 20.71 ± 3.56 in the metformin group, and 19.00 ± 3.71 vs. 19.1 ± 3.56 in the insulin group.
A multivariable regression analysis confirmed the beneficial effects of empagliflozin.
A marked amelioration of physical impairment was observed, assessed by the 5-m gait speed test, in the empagliflozin and metformin groups but not in the insulin group.

"This study is the first to show significant beneficial effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on cognitive and physical impairment in frail older adults with diabetes and HFpEF," concluded the authors.

Limitations to the study include no control arm — scores were compared with individuals on insulin and/or metformin; additionally, the follow-up period was only 1 month since starting therapy.

Reference:

Pasquale Mone, Angela Lombardi, Jessica Gambardella, Antonella Pansini, Gaetano Macina, Maria Morgante, Salvatore Frullone, Gaetano Santulli; Empagliflozin Improves Cognitive Impairment in Frail Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Diabetes Care 2022; dc212434. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-2434

Diabetes CareSGLT2 inhibitorempagliflozincognitive impairment

Source : Diabetes Care

Medha Baranwal

MSc. Biotechnology

Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751