Should the SELECT Trial Make Us Comfortable Using GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in HFrEF?

Obesity and inflammation in chronic and acute heart failure

Obesity and inflammation have been associated with an increased incidence of heart failure (HF) and death. However, until recent years, no therapy directed towards reducing inflammation and reducing obesity has been shown to reduce those adverse outcomes. Over the past few years, a few small studies have suggested that improving obesity-and in even smaller studies, reducing inflammation-may help improve HF severity, congestion, quality of life, and possibly outcomes. Larger studies that are being planned and executed, which will report their results within the next 2-3 years, should help further clarify the effects of weight and inflammation reduction in patients with HF.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists to improve cardiorenal outcomes: data from FLOW and beyond

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA), initially approved for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have emerged as agents for weight loss, cardiovascular and kidney protection. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the benefits of these therapies on cardiorenal outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Clinical trials have consistently demonstrated reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events with GLP1RA treatments. Recently, the FLOW trial revealed that semaglutide reduced the composite outcome of kidney failure, at least 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate, kidney or cardiovascular mortality by 24% in patients with T2DM, thereby establishing GLP1RA as a pillar of therapy in this population. New evidence suggests favorable effects on kidney endpoints in nondiabetic individuals with overweight or obesity. Dedicated trials have also provided evidence for reduction in the risk for heart failure hospitalization and improvement in symptoms in individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Subgroup analyses have suggested that GLP1RAs confer additive cardiorenal benefits irrespective of background medication use.

SUMMARY

There is increasing evidence that GLP1RA reduces the risk for cardiovascular events, chronic kidney disease progression, and heart failure hospitalizations. Further data on the effect of dual and triple GLP1-based therapies on cardiorenal outcomes is required.

Cardiovascular outcomes with exenatide in type 2 diabetes according to ejection fraction: The EXSCEL trial

AIMS

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiovascular mortality in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, previous studies suggest the effects on heart failure outcomes vary according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to evaluate the effects of exenatide on cardiovascular events according to LVEF in people with T2D.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Post-hoc analysis of the Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering (EXSCEL) trial evaluating the effects of once-weekly exenatide (EQW) versus placebo on cardiovascular outcomes according to baseline LVEF (<40% or ≥40%). Outcomes were also evaluated according to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and obesity. The main outcome was hospitalization for heart failure (HHF). A treatment-by-LVEF interaction was used. In EXSCEL (n = 14 752), 4749 participants had LVEF available at baseline; 455 (10%) with LVEF <40%, 4294 (90%) with LVEF ≥40%. LVEF modified the EQW effect on hHF: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95-2.43) in participants with LVEF < 40% and HR = 0.74 (95% CI = 0.55-1.01) in those with LVEF ≥ 40% (p-interaction = 0.012). No significant treatment-by-LVEF interactions (p-interaction >0.10) were observed for MACE, cardiovascular death or all-cause mortality. The risk of HHF was also modified by baseline NYHA class (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.65-1.27 for NYHA class I/II; HR 1.84, 95% CI 0.95-3.59 for NYHA class III/IV; p-interaction = 0.062), mostly driven by the LVEF <40% subgroup. Obesity did not modify the effects of EQW on HHF.

CONCLUSIONS

The EQW effect on HHF was influenced by LVEF, with a potentially decreased risk in participants with LVEF ≥40% and increased risk in those with LVEF <40%. The risk of HHF was particularly high in participants with LVEF <40% and NYHA class III/IV. LVEF did not modify the effect of EQW on atherosclerotic outcomes.