Table 1 Summary of selected clinical studies reported on the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes

T2DM + high CV risk

RCTs (EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial); Empagliflozin (10 or 25 mg/days) vs. placebo/PO/3.1 years

↓ Cardiovascular-cause death (38% RRR)

↓ All-cause death (32% RRR)

↓ HHF (35% RRR)

↔ MI, stroke

Empagliflozin reduced the rate of HHF, death from cardiovascular and/or any causes in T2DM population at high risk for CV events

[12]

T2DM + high CV risk

RCTs (CANVAS trial); Canagliflozin (100 or 300 mg/days) vs. placebo/PO/3.6 years

↓ Composite of cardiovascular-cause death, nonfatal MI or nonfatal stroke (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–0.97)

↓ HHF (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.52–0.87)

↔ All-cause death, cardiovascular-cause death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke

Canagliflozin reduced the rate of HHF and composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal MI or nonfatal stroke in T2DM population at high risk for CV events

[13]

T2DM

Retrospective observational (CVD-REAL study); SGLT-2 inhibitors vs. glucose-lowering drugs/> 1 year

↓ HHF (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.41–0.57)

↓ All-cause death (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.51–0.73)

SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced all-cause death and HHF compared with other glucose-lowering drugs in T2DM population

[14]

T2DM

Retrospective observational; SGLT-2 inhibitors vs. DPP-4 inhibitors/2 years

↓ HHF (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54–0.86)

SGLT-2 inhibitors reduced HHF compared with DPP-4 inhibitors in T2DM population

[15]