Potential global impact of sodium–glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors in heart failure

Abstract

AimsSodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitors are effective across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in heart failure (HF); however, population‐wide medication use in eligible patients remains suboptimal. We evaluated the potential implications of optimal global implementation of SGLT‐2 inhibitors in HF.Methods and resultsA decision analytical study was performed using the global prevalence of HF from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 report. Exclusion criteria were applied using the NHANES to ascertain an SGLT‐2 inhibitor‐eligible population, which was mapped onto global LVEF distributions from the REPORT‐HF registry. The number needed to treat for 3 years for the composite of worsening HF events and cardiovascular deaths was calculated from estimated event rates in the DAPA‐HF, EMPEROR‐Reduced, EMPEROR‐Preserved, and DELIVER trials and projected onto the eligible population. An estimated 49 329 000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 43 882 000–54 929 000) HF patients would be eligible for SGLT‐2 inhibitors across all LVEFs, including 25 651 000 (95% CI 22 818 000–28 563 000) with LVEF ≤40% and 23 678 000 (95% CI 21 063 000–26 366 000) with LVEF >40%. Optimal implementation of SGLT‐2 inhibitors would be projected to prevent/postpone 4 512 011 (95% CI 4 013 686–5 024 232) to 5 986 943 (95% CI 5 325 721–6 666 604) total worsening HF events and cardiovascular deaths over 3 years in patients with LVEF <40%. An additional 2 102 606 (95% CI 1 870 394–2 341 301) to 2 557 224 (95% CI 2 274 804–2 847 528) total worsening HF events and cardiovascular deaths would be prevented/postponed in patients with LVEF >40%. Among all eligible HF patients, irrespective of LVEF, 7 069 235 (95% CI 6 288 490–7 871 760) to 8 089 549 (95% CI 7 196 115–9 007 905) total worsening HF events and cardiovascular deaths would be prevented/postponed over this period.ConclusionsOptimal implementation of SGLT‐2 inhibitors globally in HF is projected to prevent/postpone approximately 7–8 million worsening HF events and cardiovascular deaths over 3 years.