The effect of empagliflozin on the development of chronic heart failure after myocardial infarction according to a 12-month prospective study

BACKGROUND: Although the positive cardiovascular effect of empagliflozin has been established, its influence on the formation of heart failure (HF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) after myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown. AIM: To study the effect of empagliflozin on the formation of chronic HF after MI in patients having diabetes mellitus of type 2 (DM 2), according to 12-month follow-up data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 47 patients with MI and DM 2 were included; 21 received standard therapy for MI and diabetes (group 1); 26 patients, in addition, received empagliflozin (group 2). The patients were investigated in 3 and 12 months, to assess the dynamics of glycemic control, 6-minute walk test, echocardiography. RESULTS: During postinfarction period, the 6-minute walk distance was increasing in group 1 in a lesser degree (p = 0.18) than in group 2 (49.5%, p = 0.0004). The ejection fraction got better particularly in group 2 (p = 0.002). At baseline, the proportions of patients having HF with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction were 85.7% and 82.4% in groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.56) but in 12 months decreased to 71.4% and 29.4% (p = 0.012). In empagliflozin group diastolic function was improved in a third of the patients (p = 0.041). The pulmonary artery systolic pressure was increasing in group 1 (by 10,4%, p = 0.041) but decreasing in group 2 (by 24,0%, p = 0.019). Glycemic control was better in group 2 than in group 1. CONCLUSION: According to 12-month follow-up data, empagliflozin has a positive effect on HF formation and symptoms in patients having MI and DM 2. This effect may be based on the ability of empagliflozin to improve the state of the heart including the delay of postinfarction remodeling, the improvement of pulmonary artery hemodynamics, systolic and diastolic function, the reduction of risk of chronic HF with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction