Effects of canagliflozin on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The main contributors to cardiovascular risk in T2DM are chronic hyperglycaemia, reduced insulin sensitivity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Other cardiovascular risk factors include obesity and visceral adiposity, increased arterial stiffness and renal dysfunction. Results from clinical trials, including a long‐term cardiovascular outcome study, have shown that sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can provide multiple cardiometabolic benefits beyond glycaemic control including inducing mild osmotic diuresis, natriuresis and weight loss. This review article describes the effects of canagliflozin on cardiovascular risk factors based on results from its clinical development programme. METHODS: This review is based on structured searches to identify literature related to the effects of canagliflozin on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with T2DM. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Canagliflozin treatment has been shown to provide glycaemic improvements as well as reductions in blood pressure and body weight across a broad range of patients with T2DM, including those with elevated cardiovascular risk. Other observed effects of canagliflozin that may contribute to improved cardiometabolic outcomes include reduction in uric acid levels, decreased albuminuria and increases in serum magnesium. Results of ongoing long‐term cardiovascular outcomes studies of canagliflozin are expected to provide additional evidence on the cardiometabolic effects of canagliflozin treatment.