Background:
SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors improve heart failure–associated outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. In patients with heart failure, SGLT2 inhibitors will likely be coprescribed with a loop diuretic, but this combined effect is not well-defined. Our aim was to assess the diuretic and natriuretic effect of empagliflozin in combination with loop diuretics.
Methods:
The RECEDE-CHF trial (SGLT2 Inhibition in Combination With Diuretics in Heart Failure) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction taking regular loop diuretic who were randomized to empagliflozin 25 mg once daily or placebo for 6 weeks with a 2-week washout period. The primary outcome was change in 24-hour urinary volume from baseline to week 6.
Results:
Twenty-three participants (mean age, 69.8 years; 73.9% male; mean furosemide dose, 49.6±31.3 mg/d; mean HbA1c, 7.9±3.8%) were recruited. Compared with placebo, empagliflozin caused a significant increase in 24-hour urinary volume at both day 3 (mean difference, 535 mL [95% CI, 133–936];
P
=0.005) and week 6 (mean difference, 545 mL [95% CI, 136–954];
P
=0.005) after adjustment for treatment order, baseline 24-hour urine volume, and percentage change in loop diuretic dose. At 6 weeks, empagliflozin did not cause a significant change in 24-hour urinary sodium (mean difference, −7.85 mmol/L [95% CI, −2.43 to 6.73];
P
=0.57). Empagliflozin caused a nonsignificant increase in fractional excretion of sodium at day 3, which was absent at week 6 (mean difference day 3, 0.30% [95% CI, −0.03 to 0.63];
P
=0.09; week 6, 0.11% [95% CI, −0.22 to 0.44];
P
>0.99), and a significant increase in electrolyte-free water clearance at week 6 (mean difference, 312 mL [95% CI, 26–598];
P
=0.026) compared with placebo. Empagliflozin also caused significant reductions in body weight and serum urate at week 6.
Conclusions:
Empagliflozin caused a significant increase in 24-hour urine volume without an increase in urinary sodium when used in combination with loop diuretic.
Registration:
URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique Identifier: NCT03226457.
Correction to: Renal and Cardiovascular Effects of SGLT2 Inhibition in Combination with Loop Diuretics in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Heart Failure: The RECEDE-CHF Trial