Putative protective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on atrial fibrillation through risk factor modulation and off-target actions: potential mechanisms and future directions

Early prescription of SGLT2i for acute patient care: from current evidence to future directions

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as transformative therapies in the management of chronic heart failure (HF), offering substantial reductions in mortality and hospitalizations. Beyond their initial classification as diuretics, SGLT2i exert a spectrum of cardioprotective effects that extend far beyond renal modulation. By activating autophagic pathways and mimicking a starvation-like state, SGLT2i enhance cellular bioenergetics and mitigate acute injury, potentially underpinning both their immediate and sustained cardiometabolic benefits when administered early in acute care settings. In acute decompensated HF, early initiation of SGLT2i enhances clinical decongestion by increasing diuresis, improving diuretic efficiency, and mitigating diuretic resistance, translating to shorter hospitalizations and reduced readmissions and mortality. In acute myocardial infarction, SGLT2i reduce the incidence of first and total HF hospitalizations, arrhythmic events, adverse cardiac remodelling, and contrast-induced acute kidney injury, while mitigating stent failure and atherosclerotic progression. Furthermore, they demonstrated efficacy in preventing new-onset and recurrent supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. However, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding their impact on sudden cardiac death or outcomes following cardiac arrest. In critically ill patients, SGLT2i use is associated with reduced rates of acute kidney injury and the need for renal replacement therapy, with promising implications for the management of sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction. Importantly, adverse effects such as renal impairment, electrolyte disturbances, acid-base imbalances, urinary tract infections, and dysglycemia appear infrequently in this population. This narrative review synthesizes the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, current clinical evidence, and potential future applications of early SGLT2i therapy in acute care settings, providing insights into their expanding role in contemporary cardiovascular medicine.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a lower rate of atrial arrhythmias in a hospitalized real-world population

Background

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have been associated with lower rates of cardiac arrhythmias in post hoc analyses. The real-world effect on cardiac arrhythmias is incompletely defined.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of SGLT2i on cardiac arrhythmias in a real-world, hospitalized population.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed in South Australia, Australia. Patients (n = 882) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on oral diabetic therapy (33.6% females, median age 62.3 years) who received SGLT2i (for T2DM) were identified through public hospital admissions from 2011-2019. Patients were matched with 3282 contemporaneous controls with T2DM who did not receive SGLT2i. Baseline characteristics were adjusted using inverse probability treatment weighting. The primary outcome was incidence of atrial arrhythmias. Secondary outcomes included incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest at 2 years.

Results

All-cause mortality was higher in the SGLT2i group (hazard ratio [HR] 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-2.63, P <.001) despite propensity matching, highlighting the greater unmeasured comorbidity burden of the SGLT2i-treated group. Despite this, SGLT2i treatment was associated with fewer atrial arrhythmias (HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.07-0.41, P <.001) at 2 years. The relationship between SGLT2i use and ventricular arrhythmias (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.06-1.03, P = .055) and cardiac arrest (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.20-3.45, P = .796) did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

In this real-world, comorbid inpatient cohort, SGLT2i treatment was associated with a lower incidence of atrial arrhythmias. Prospective randomized trials evaluating SGLT2i as specific atrial fibrillation pharmacotherapy are underway.

Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor on atrial high-rate episodes in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device: a randomized controlled trial

Prior research has demonstrated an association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and a reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Given the established link between mitochondrial dysfunction and AF, this study aimed to explore the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on AF burden and plausible antiarrhythmic mechanisms in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Patients with atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) detected by CIEDs were randomized to receive either 10 mg of dapagliflozin or a placebo for 3 months. AF burdens were quantified via CIEDs interrogations as AHREs duration, percentage, and number of episodes at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Mitochondrial parameters, cellular oxidative stress, and norepinephrine levels were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A total of 54 patients with CIEDs were enrolled in the study. Among them, 36 patients (66.7%) had a history of clinical AF, and 9 patients (16.7%) had diabetes mellitus. After 3 months of the assigned treatment, the median longest AHRE duration decreased similarly in both the dapagliflozin and placebo groups (-77.0 vs. -162.0 min, p = 0.442). Clinical AF, as opposed to subclinical AF, was independently linked to decreased basal respiration and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Although the changes in AHREs burden over the 3 months did not significantly differ between the dapagliflozin and placebo groups, dapagliflozin significantly decreased the number of AHREs per month by 2.2 episodes among patients with clinical AF, whereas the placebo group experienced an increase of 0.6 episodes (p = 0.048). Additionally, dapagliflozin significantly reduced cellular oxidative stress (from 26840 to 18164 arbitrary units, p = 0.049) and improved mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity (SRC) percentage (from 166 to 202%, p = 0.016) in patients with clinical AF. Dapagliflozin did not significantly reduce the longest AHRE duration in patients with CIED. However, in the subgroup of patients with clinical AF, dapagliflozin reduced the number of AHREs potentially via reduction of cellular oxidative stress and enhancement of mitochondrial function.The study protocol was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR identification number TCTR20210315003) on March 15, 2021.

The Role of Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors in Atrial Fibrillation: A Comprehensive Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia among adults worldwide, frequently co-occurring with comorbidities such as Heart Failure (HF) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This association contributes to increased morbidity and mortality, elevated healthcare costs, and diminished quality of life. Consequently, preventing or delaying the onset and recurrence of AF is crucial for reducing the incidence of complications. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is), due to their multifaceted pharmacological actions, have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents in the management of AF. However, current evidence from both animal models and clinical studies remains inconclusive. This narrative literature review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing evidence on the impact of SGLT2is on the prevalence, incidence of new-onset, and recurrence of AF in diabetic populations and patients with HF. Numerous observational studies, predominantly retrospective, suggest a consistent reduction in AF risk with SGLT2is, while randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have yielded mixed results, with some demonstrating benefits and others not reaching statistical significance. The heterogeneity in study outcomes, population characteristics, follow-up duration, and specific SGLT2is used, as well as potential biases, underscore the need for further extensive and rigorous RCTs to establish definitive conclusions and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Empagliflozin to prevent post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Rationale and design of the EMPOAF trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is one of the most common types of acute AF and can complicate the treatment course of approximately one third of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are among the newest antidiabetic drugs which can be therapeutic options for preventing POAF by different mechanisms.

METHODS

Empagliflozin to Prevent POAF (EMPOAF) is an interventional, investigator-initiated, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, randomized controlled trial which will be conducted in two referral teaching cardiology hospitals in Tehran. Four-hundred ninety-two adult patients who are scheduled for elective isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery will be randomly assigned to one of the groups of intervention (empagliflozin 10 mg daily) or placebo starting at least 3 days before surgery until discharge. Key exclusion criteria are a history of diabetes mellitus, AF, ketoacidosis, or recurrent urinary tract infections along with severe renal or hepatic impairment, unstable hemodynamics, and patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors for another indication. The primary outcome will be the incidence of POAF. Key secondary endpoints will be the composite rate of life-threatening arrhythmias, postoperative acute kidney injury, hospitalization length, in-hospital mortality, stroke, and systemic embolization. Key safety endpoints will be the rate of life-threatening and/or genitourinary tract infections, hypoglycemia, and ketoacidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

EMPOAF will prospectively evaluate whether empagliflozin 10 mg daily can reduce the rate of POAF in patients undergoing elective CABG. Enrolment into this study has started by November 2023 and is expected to be ended before the end of 2025.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors for the prevention of atrial fibrillation: a systemic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are reported to have cardiac benefits. The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) remain inconclusive. We aimed to investigate whether SGLT2 inhibitors can prevent AF occurrence in patients with cardiometabolic diseases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL database up to 1 July 2023. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), or cardiometabolic risk factors were included. The primary outcome was AF occurrence. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in the overall population and selected subgroups. Forty-six trials comprising 101 100 patients were included. Overall, no significant risk reduction of AF occurrence was observed with SGLT2 inhibitors, although there was a favourable trend (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80-1.01). In trials with follow-up durations of over 1 year, a similar result was achieved (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80-1.01). The results were consistent across different SGLT2 inhibitors, with RRs (95% CIs) of 0.82 (0.60-1.12) for canagliflozin, 0.87 (0.73-1.03) for dapagliflozin, 0.97 (0.78-1.22) for empagliflozin, 0.99 (0.66-1.50) for sotagliflozin, and 0.87 (0.58-1.29) for ertugliflozin. Analyses in different doses of SGLT2 inhibitors yielded similar results. The associations between SGLT2 inhibitors and AF occurrence were also absent in patients with diabetes, heart failure, and CKDs.

CONCLUSION

For patients with cardiometabolic diseases or risk factors, SGLT2 inhibitors did not decrease the risk of AF occurrence, regardless of follow-up duration, type or dose of the drug, or the patient population.

SGLT2 inhibition, circulating metabolites, and atrial fibrillation: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have shown promise in reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the results are controversial and the underlying metabolic mechanism remains unclear. Emerging evidence implied that SGLT2 inhibitors have extra beneficial metabolic effects on circulating metabolites beyond glucose control, which might play a role in reducing the risk of AF. Hence, our study aimed to investigate the effect of circulating metabolites mediating SGLT2 inhibition in AF by Mendelian randomization (MR).

METHODS

A two-sample and two-step MR study was conducted to evaluate the association of SGLT2 inhibition with AF and the mediation effects of circulating metabolites linking SGLT2 inhibition with AF. Genetic instruments for SGLT2 inhibition were identified as genetic variants, which were both associated with the expression of SLC5A2 gene and glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c). Positive control analysis on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was conducted to validate the selection of genetic instruments.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted SGLT2 inhibition (per 1 SD decrement in HbA1c) was associated with reduced risk of T2DM (odds ratio [OR] = 0.63 [95% CI 0.45, 0.88], P = 0.006) and AF (0.51 [0.27, 0.97], P = 0.039). Among 168 circulating metabolites, two metabolites were both associated with SGLT2 inhibition and AF. The effect of SGLT2 inhibition on AF through the total concentration of lipoprotein particles (0.88 [0.81, 0.96], P = 0.004) and the concentration of HDL particles (0.89 [0.82, 0.97], P = 0.005), with a mediated proportion of 8.03% (95% CI [1.20%, 14.34%], P = 0.010) and 7.59% ([1.09%, 13.34%], P = 0.011) of the total effect, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supported the association of SGLT2 inhibition with a reduced risk of AF. The total concentration of lipoprotein particles and particularly the concentration of HDL particles might mediate this association. Further mechanistic and clinical studies research are needed to understand the mediation effects of circulating metabolites especially blood lipids in the association between SGLT2 inhibition and AF.

Benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors in arrhythmias

Some studies have shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors can definitively attenuate the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure (HF), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and myocardial infarction. With the development of research, SGLT2 inhibitors can also reduce the risk of arrhythmias. So in this review, how SGLT2 inhibitors play a role in reducing the risk of arrhythmia from the perspective of electrical remodeling and structural remodeling are explored and then the possible mechanisms are discussed. Specifically, we focus on the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in Na+ and Ca2 + homeostasis and the transients of Na+ and Ca2 +, which could affect electrical remodeling and then lead to arrythmia. We also discuss the protective role of SGLT2 inhibitors in structural remodeling from the perspective of fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Ultimately, it is clear that SGLT2 inhibitors have significant benefits on cardiovascular diseases such as HF, myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial infarction. It can be expected that SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce the risk of arrhythmia.