What Makes Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors Stand out in Heart Failure?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We highlight the unique properties of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2 inhibitors) which may lend favorably to their efficient integration in the background of other heart failure (HF) therapies. We also discuss the unique aspects of SGLT-2 inhibitor dosing, lack of titration needs, effects on kidney function and electrolytes, diuretic activity, and safety in the high-risk peri-hospitalization window. RECENT FINDINGS: Dapagliflozin was recently approved for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), irrespective of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on the findings of the pivotal DAPA-HF trial. All SGLT-2 inhibitors are once daily medications with minimal drug-drug interactions and do not require titration (for HF treatment) unlike other HF medications. SGLT-2 inhibitors offer modest weight loss and blood pressure reduction without major adverse effects of hyperkalemia, making it ideal for near-simultaneous initiation with other HF medications, and use in high-risk populations (including older adults). Moreover, SGLT-2 inhibitors appear to afford long-term kidney protection in diverse populations. SUMMARY: SGLT-2 inhibitors are the latest class of therapies to demonstrate important clinical benefits among patients with HFrEF, and their pharmacological properties favor ease of use and integration in multi-drug disease-modifying regimens.