DPP-4 Inhibitors and Heart Failure: Some Reassurance, Some Uncertainty

The American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2016 recommends the use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in combination with metformin as a second- or third-line treatment for type 2 diabetes (1). Owing to their relatively high costs, many jurisdictions restrict their use to patients whose glycemia remains poorly controlled on metformin–sulfonylurea combination therapy. By inhibiting DPP-4 activity, these agents increase postprandial incretin concentrations, thereby increasing insulin secretion and decreasing glucagon secretion (1). With intermediate efficacy, a low risk of hypoglycemia, neutral effects on body weight, and relatively rare adverse effects (1), their use has increased considerably since their 2006 entry into the U.S. market (2). Nevertheless, concerns remain regarding their potential association with serious adverse effects including acute pancreatitis (3), pancreatic cancer (3), and heart failure (HF) (4). [...