Vol 80, No 6 (2022)
Short communication
Published online: 2022-04-20

open access

Page views 4380
Article views/downloads 638
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

„ Short communication

Effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors on right ventricular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study

Dimitrios Patoulias1Maria Toumpourleka2Alexandra Katsimardou1Ioanna Zografou1Konstantinos Stavropoulos1Konstantinos Imprialos1Asterios Karagiannis1Michael Doumas1Christodoulos Papadopoulos2
12nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital “Hippokration”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
23rd Department of Cardiology, General Hospital “Hippokration”, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Correspondence to:

Dimitrios Patoulias, MD,

2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine,

General Hospital “Hippokration”,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,

Konstantinoupoleos 49, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece,

phone: +30 694 690 07 77,

e-mail: dipatoulias@gmail.com

Copyright by the Author(s), 2022

DOI: 10.33963/KP.a2022.0104

Received: January 30, 2022

Accepted: April 15, 2022

Early publication date: April 20, 2022

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease are interconnected [1]. Subjects with T2DM feature an excess risk for heart failure (HF) development [2] although mechanisms are not fully defined [3].

Right ventricular (RV) function is adver­sely affected by both prediabetes and T2DM [4, 5]. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have shown outstanding cardiovascular and renal benefits in T2DM. Recently, they have been incorporated into the treatment algorithm of HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF), according to the 2021 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines [6] while national societies have also adopted this evidence [7]. However, there is no evidence of their effect on RV function.

Therefore, we conducted a pilot study, to assess the effect of SGLT2i on RV function in patients with T2DM.

Methods

This is a single-arm, prospective, observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Subjects aged 1875 years old, with an established diagnosis of T2DM (≥12 months), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) values 6.5%–10.0%, stable antidiabetic and antihypertensive treatment over the last 6 months, and an indication for the initiation of an SGLT2i, were eligible to participate, after providing written informed consent. Enrolled participants were initiated to dapagliflozin or empagliflozin once daily.

We set as the primary efficacy outcome the change in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). We also assessed a number of echocardiographic parameters: basal linear RV end-diastolic diameter (4-chamber view), RV end-systolic (RVES) area, RV end-diastolic (RVED) area, RV s’, RV e’, RV a’, RV e’/a’, and RV systolic pressure (RVSP) [8].

We assessed several anthropometric and laboratory markers of interest. Blood samples were drawn after overnight fasting. We also evaluated major safety outcomes.

An echocardiographic study was performed by the same cardiologist, highly trained and blinded to clinical information, according to the current guidelines for the echocardiographic assessment of RV, at baseline and at the end of the prespecified follow-up period [8]. An echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) function was also performed.

Statistical analysis

Continuous variables are presented as mean (standard deviation [SD]) or median (interquartile range [IQR]), according to the normality of distribution, while categorical variables are presented as relative frequencies and percentages (n [%]). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test for normality. In the case of normal distributions, we performed hypothesis testing using a one-tailed paired t-test, otherwise we used a one-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Pearson coefficient correlation test was used to assess the correlation of endpoint of interest (change in TAPSE) with numerical variables of interest. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. R-4.1.3 software for Windows (The R Foundation) was utilized for statistical analysis.

Results and Discussion

Twenty subjects were included. Their mean age was 62.8 (7.87) years, while the median T2DM duration was 9.5 (4.512.25) years. Fifteen patients were male. Mean value of HbA1c was 7.43% (1.76%), while mean body mass index (BMI) was 31.31 (5.59) kg/m2. Main baseline characteristics are summarized in Supplementary material, Tables S1 and S2. A follow-up visit was planned 6 months after the initiation of an SGLT2i. Due to special regulations imposed in the context of the COVID19 pandemic, the mean treatment duration and follow-up period finally lasted 9.35 (3.4) months.

SGLT2i resulted in a significant increase in TAPSE from 2.01 (0.23) to 2.12 (0.15) cm (P = 0.02; Figure 1). No difference between the two SGLT2i was documented (P = 0.7). Change in TAPSE was significant in subjects with prior cardiovascular disease (P = 0.024), while it was non-significant for subjects without such history (P = 0.26). No significant effect of SGLT-2i on other indices of RV systolic and diastolic function was demonstrated (Supplementary material, Table S3).

5051.png
Figure 1. Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, and dapagliflozin on right ventricular systolic function as assessed with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
Abbreviations: TAPSE, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion

We did not document a significant correlation between change in TAPSE and rest echocardiographic, anthropometric, or laboratory parameters during the trial, except for a significant positive correlation between change in TAPSE and change in RV diameter at the mid-cavitary level (r = 0.46; P = 0.042; Supplementary material, Figure S1). Improvement in blood pressure (BP), body weight, and glycemic control with SGLT2i were not significant, possibly due to small sample size. No significant correlation between change in TAPSE and change in BP, body mass index, or HbA1c was demonstrated. No major safety issues were reported.

In this pilot study, treatment with SGLT2i resulted in a significant improvement in TAPSE. In a former trial, empagliflozin did not affect RV mass index (RVMi), RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index (RVEDVi, RVESVi), and RV ejection fraction (RVEF), while echocardiographic assessment documented a non-significant decrease in TAPSE [9]. In another trial, 3-month treatment with empagliflozin resulted in a significant decrease in the pulmonary artery (PA) diastolic pressure in patients with HF regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction or presence of T2DM [10]. Results concerning PA systolic pressure and mean PA pressure were consistent [10]. Experimental data have suggested that empagliflozin decreases RV hypertrophy and fibrosis, while it also inhibits PA remodeling in a model of pulmonary hypertension [11].

At present, it seems impossible to determine the mechanisms underlying this beneficial effect on TAPSE. Osmotic diuresis and natriuresis [12], along with inhibition of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity and increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration [13], amelioration of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation [14], and improvement in coronary microvascular function [15] might be among those mechanisms. Preload and afterload reduction, mainly by natriuresis, might be the most significant factor that leads to TAPSE increment and improved RV function.

The small sample size and study design represent the main limitations. We should also highlight the specific limitations of 2D echocardiography in clinical practice. cMRI is the modality of choice for accurate anatomic and cardiac tissue characterization although is much more expensive and not widely available. In addition, it would be interesting to assess the impact of SGLT-2i on RV function in patients with HF, in whom the beneficial effect could hypothetically be more pronounced. Unfortunately, only one patient in our cohort had a history of HF.

Finally, our results should be interpreted with caution. Both TAPSE and RV s’ velocity assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) are angle-dependent and reflect only the longitudinal function of the basal segment of the RV, neglecting the contribution of the apical and RV outflow tract components to RV global systolic performance. While usually they exhibit similar changes, TAPSE is more load dependent than TDI S’ velocity. Thus, one can speculate that since SGLT2i may promote natriuresis and reduce preload, TAPSE might show an improved value after SGLT2i therapy, in contrast to RV S’, which is less load-dependent and possibly needs more time to show a significant change.

To sum up, this is the first study to assess the effect of SGLT2i on RV function in patients with T2DM. These results should be a motive for further assessment of the effect of SGLT2i on RV function, based on its prognostic role. Larger studies will shed further light on this interesting topic.

Supplementary material

Supplementary material is available at https://journals.viamedica.pl/kardiologia_polska

Article information

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Funding: None.

Open access: This article is available in open access under Creative Common Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license, allowing to download articles and share them with others as long as they credit the authors and the publisher, but without permission to change them in any way or use them commercially. For commercial use, please contact the journal office at kardiologiapolska@ptkardio.pl.

REFERENCES

  1. Einarson TR, Acs A, Ludwig C, et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature review of scientific evidence from across the world in 2007-2017. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018; 17(1): 83, doi: 10.1186/s12933-018-0728-6, indexed in Pubmed: 29884191.
  2. Kenny HC, Abel ED. Heart failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Circ Res. 2019; 124(1): 121141, doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.311371, indexed in Pubmed: 30605420.
  3. Bugger H, Abel ED. Molecular mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diabetologia. 2014; 57(4): 660671, doi: 10.1007/s00125-014-3171-6, indexed in Pubmed: 24477973.
  4. Tadic M, Cuspidi C, Vukomanovic V, et al. The influence of type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension on right ventricular layer-specific mechanics. Acta Diabetol. 2016; 53(5): 791797, doi: 10.1007/s00592-016-0874-9, indexed in Pubmed: 27311687.
  5. Linssen PBC, Veugen MGJ, Henry RMA, et al. Associations of (pre)diabetes with right ventricular and atrial structure and function: the Maastricht Study. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2020; 19(1): 88, doi: 10.1186/s12933-020-01055-y, indexed in Pubmed: 32539792.
  6. McDonagh TA, Metra M, Adamo M, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2021; 42(36): 35993726, doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab368, indexed in Pubmed: 34447992.
  7. Nessler J, Siniarski A, Leszek P, et al. Reviewers. Expert opinion of the Heart Failure Working Group of the Polish Cardiac Society on the use of dapagliflozin in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Kardiol Pol. 2021; 79(3): 363370, doi: 10.33963/KP.15859, indexed in Pubmed: 33687868.
  8. Lang RM, Badano LP, Mor-Avi V, et al. Recommendations for cardiac chamber quantification by echocardiography in adults: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2015; 28(1): 139.e14, doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2014.10.003, indexed in Pubmed: 25559473.
  9. Sarak B, Verma S, David Mazer C, et al. Impact of empagliflozin on right ventricular parameters and function among patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2021; 20(1): 200, doi: 10.1186/s12933-021-01390-8, indexed in Pubmed: 34607574.
  10. Nassif ME, Qintar M, Windsor SL, et al. Empagliflozin Effects on Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Patients With Heart Failure: Results From the EMBRACE-HF Trial. Circulation. 2021; 143(17): 16731686, doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.052503, indexed in Pubmed: 33550815.
  11. Chowdhury B, Luu AZ, Luu VZ, et al. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin reduces mortality and prevents progression in experimental pulmonary hypertension. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020; 524(1): 5056, doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.01.015, indexed in Pubmed: 31980166.
  12. Verma S, McMurray JJV. SGLT2 inhibitors and mechanisms of cardiovascular benefit: a state-of-the-art review. Diabetologia. 2018; 61(10): 21082117, doi: 10.1007/s00125-018-4670-7, indexed in Pubmed: 30132036.
  13. Baartscheer A, Schumacher CA, Wüst RCI, et al. Empagliflozin decreases myocardial cytoplasmic Na through inhibition of the cardiac Na/H exchanger in rats and rabbits. Diabetologia. 2017; 60(3): 568573, doi: 10.1007/s00125-016-4134-x, indexed in Pubmed: 27752710.
  14. Quagliariello V, De Laurentiis M, Rea D, et al. The SGLT-2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves myocardial strain, reduces cardiac fibrosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines in non-diabetic mice treated with doxorubicin. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2021; 20(1): 150, doi: 10.1186/s12933-021-01346-y, indexed in Pubmed: 34301253.
  15. Adingupu DD, Göpel SO, Grönros J, et al. SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin improves coronary microvascular function and cardiac contractility in prediabetic ob/ob mice. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2019; 18(1): 16, doi: 10.1186/s12933-019-0820-6, indexed in Pubmed: 30732594.



Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska)