Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Netherlands Heart Journal 10/2021

Open Access 31-08-2021 | Editor’s Comment

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in cardiology: Slow start and sweet passage

Auteur: R. J. G. Peters

Gepubliceerd in: Netherlands Heart Journal | Uitgave 10/2021

share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail
insite
ZOEKEN
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors suppress proximal tubular reabsorption of glucose in the kidney. By this mechanism, they reduce plasma glucose concentrations and increase the excretion of glucose in urine, irrespective of the presence of diabetes mellitus. In fact, by inducing glucosuria, in a literal sense (and literally only) these drugs cause diabetes mellitus: the honeysweet passage of urine.
Multiple clinical trials in patients with heart failure, with or without type 2 diabetes, have demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including hospitalisation for heart failure and cardiovascular death, and that they inhibit the progression of kidney function loss. In addition, they are associated with reduced symptoms and improvements in quality of life. These benefits are seen both in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. The risks of adverse events in the natural course of disease in these cardiovascular patients are very high, and there is an obvious need for effective prevention. The risk reductions achieved with SGLT2 inhibitors in these patients are clear and consistent, and the drugs are associated with few side effects. In addition, a single tablet a day will do [1, 2].
Based on the trial evidence and recent guidelines, widespread introduction into the practice of cardiology would be expected. However, uptake is slow, and it appears that cardiologists in the Netherlands are more hesitant than colleagues in other countries. This has also been observed with the introduction of other pharmacological innovations, such as direct oral anticoagulants [3].
Several barriers to the introduction of these new agents may play a role. The addition of yet another drug to the polypharmacy in these patients likely impacts the compliance of both patients and physicians. There may be a limit to the number of treatments that both parties can oversee, comprehend or accept. Preventive treatments in general are more difficult for patients to accept than treatments that relieve symptoms. A major drawback in prevention is that its rewards are invisible in the individual patient: nothing happens if prevention is effective. In the case of SGLT2 inhibitors, however, there is also a favourable effect on symptoms, quality of life and functional status. This should facilitate the acceptance by both patients and physicians.
For clinicians, each addition to the drug schedule of a patient increases their workload, including the review of indications and contraindications, mandatory administration, consultation of other disciplines, mandatory lab work and follow-up visits. Not all cardiologists are familiar with the titration of antidiabetic medication, and drug changes may disturb a satisfactory balance. Costs may play a role; however, in the case of SGLT2 inhibitors, this is not a critical issue, at 1.50 euro a day.
In this issue of the Netherlands Heart Journal, Zwart et al. present a brief review of the literature and a practical approach to starting SGLT2 inhibitors in patients, for use in everyday cardiology practice [4]. The authors build on trial evidence and guidelines to create a highly practical manual for daily use. Hopefully, this will stimulate clinicians to offer SGLT2 inhibitors to patients in whom the benefits may be expected. In addition, the authors report on their initial experience in 84 patients. This provides a real-world impression of what cardiologists may expect when introducing these agents into their practice.
Based on these observations, it appears to be helpful to initiate centre-based clinical routines and pathways that include the participation of cardiologists, internists and paramedical personnel. A protocol and standardised procedures will facilitate the adoption of this new class of drugs and help to secure a sweet flow in the clinician’s office.

Conflict of interest

R.J.G. Peters declares that he/she has no competing interests.
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​.
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Onze productaanbevelingen

Netherlands Heart Journal

Het Netherlands Heart Journal wordt uitgegeven in samenwerking met de Nederlandse Vereniging voor Cardiologie en de Nederlandse Hartstichting. Het tijdschrift is Engelstalig en wordt gratis beschikbaa ...

Literatuur
1.
go back to reference Zelniker TA, Wiviott SD, Raz I, et al. SGLT2 inhibitors for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials. Lancet. 2019;393:31–9.CrossRef Zelniker TA, Wiviott SD, Raz I, et al. SGLT2 inhibitors for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials. Lancet. 2019;393:31–9.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Zannad F, Ferreira JP, Pocock SJ, et al. SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of the EMPEROR-reduced and DAPA-HF trials. Lancet. 2020;396:819–29.CrossRef Zannad F, Ferreira JP, Pocock SJ, et al. SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of the EMPEROR-reduced and DAPA-HF trials. Lancet. 2020;396:819–29.CrossRef
3.
go back to reference De Jong LA, Koops M, Gout-Zwart JJ, et al. Trends in direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use: health benefits and patient preference. Neth J Med. 2018;76:426–30.PubMed De Jong LA, Koops M, Gout-Zwart JJ, et al. Trends in direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use: health benefits and patient preference. Neth J Med. 2018;76:426–30.PubMed
Metagegevens
Titel
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in cardiology: Slow start and sweet passage
Auteur
R. J. G. Peters
Publicatiedatum
31-08-2021
Uitgeverij
Bohn Stafleu van Loghum
Gepubliceerd in
Netherlands Heart Journal / Uitgave 10/2021
Print ISSN: 1568-5888
Elektronisch ISSN: 1876-6250
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-021-01618-y

Andere artikelen Uitgave 10/2021

Netherlands Heart Journal 10/2021 Naar de uitgave

Rhythm Puzzle – Answer

Tachycardia in a teenager

Rhythm Puzzle – Question

Tachycardia in a teenager