EFFECT OF EMPAGLIFLOZIN ON CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Empagliflozin is a newer category of anti-diabetic drug. It is a SGLT2 inhibitor and exerts its action by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose from the tubules in the kidneys that leads to loss of glucose in the urine. There has been great interest in the use of empagliflozin in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, not because of its glucose lowering properties, but due to its improved cardiovascular outcomes. The positive cardiovascular outcomes associated with the use of empagliflozin is independent of its glucose lowering aspect and involves its action on lowering of blood pressure, weight loss and decrease in visceral fat. Several randomized clinical trials have been conducted on the effect of empagliflozin on cardiovascular mortality and they have clearly shown the dominance of empagliflozin as compared to the other glucose lowering therapies. This has revolutionized the use of empagliflozin in patients outside the spectrum of diabetes mellitus and has allowed its entry in the category of drugs which improve cardiovascular mortality. We have conducted this study to further gather clinical evidence regarding the cardiovascular mortality outcomes associated with the use of empaglifozin as compared to other glucose lowering therapies and whether this outcome is also evident in patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Empagliflozin, Heart failure, Diabetes, Cardiovascular outcomes, Lowering blood pressure, Weight los