Association between SGLT2 Inhibitors and Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with decreased skeletal muscle mass but remains unclear in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) undergoing comprehensive outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Therefore, this study investigates the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on the outcomes of patients with CVD and T2DM undergoing comprehensive outpatient CR. The study included 402 patients with CVD and T2DM who participated in comprehensive outpatient CR. Physical functions (grip strength, maximal quadriceps isometric strength, usual gait speed, and 6-minute walking distance) were measured at discharge as baseline and 5 months thereafter, and the association between physical functions and SGLT2 inhibitor use was reviewed. Physical functions improved regardless of SGLT2 inhibitor use. Multiple regression analysis showed that SGLT2 inhibitor use was not associated with improvement or decline in physical functions (p ≥ 0.05). The use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with CVD and T2DM undergoing outpatient CR did not impair improvement in physical functions.