A DRUG that is commonly used in the treatment of diabetes may also have considerable benefits for non-diabetics with heart failure, a new study by Scottish scientists has found.
Led by John McMurray, professor of cardiology at Glasgow University, the team of researchers found that dapagliflozin can be successfully used to treat patients with heart failure, reducing their risk of worsening heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes.
The new research was presented yesterday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2019. The data showed that dapagliflozin reduced patients’ risk of heart failure worsening or cardiovascular death by 26% even if patients do not have diabetes.
In addition to these results, dapagliflozin also reduced the risk of death from any cause by 17% in patients with established heart failure and hospital admission with worsening heart failure by 30%, as well as improving symptoms and quality of life – a major concern for most people with the condition.
McMurray said: “These are really once in a lifetime findings, that show that a commonly prescribed drug for diabetes can effectively be used to treat people with heart failure.
“The results are remarkable – probably the most important finding of all is that dapagliflozin was associated with benefit in patients without diabetes. With dapagliflozin, we did the three things you want to do for the patient in the ideal world: make them feel better, keep them out of hospital and keep them alive. We’re delighted with the results.”
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