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SUNDAY, November 11, 2018 – The drug Farxiga diabetes could be duplicated for patients, helping to prevent another killer, heart failure, according to a new study.
Type 2 diabetics who took Farxiga saw their hospitalization probabilities for heart failure drop by 27% compared to those who took placebo, according to a study funded by the drug's manufacturer, Astra-Zeneca. The compound is called dapagliflozin.
"When it comes to helping our patients control and manage their blood sugar, the" how "seems to be so important [as] "How much?" Said Dr. Stephen Wiviott, author of the study, a specialist in cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Boston Hospital.
"When choosing a therapy, test results like these can help us make an informed decision about not only safe and effective treatments for reducing blood glucose, but also to reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications, "said Wiviott in a hospital statement.
The findings were published Nov. 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with their presentation at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Chicago.
The new study involved more than 17,000 patients with type 2 diabetes aged 40 years and older. The Wiviott group said nearly 7,000 had heart disease and more than 10,000 had many risk factors for heart disease.
Patients were randomly assigned to a "dummy" placebo pill or 10 milligrams of Farxiga each day.
The research team found that taking this medication did not reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death related to the cardiovascular system. However, patients who took this medication found a healthy drop in their blood sugar levels, as well as an added benefit: a 27% decrease in the risk of hospitalization for heart failure.
Their risk of kidney failure and death from kidney failure has also declined, the Boston team said.
Farxiga is a type of medicine called SGLT2 inhibitor. Two other recent studies of this class of drugs show that they "improve steadily and consistently [kidney] results in a large population of diabetic patients, "noted Wiviott.
A cardiologist who did not participate in the study said the results of this survey are good news for people with diabetes.
"Unfortunately, more than 70% of deaths in diabetic patients are of cardiovascular origin," said Dr. Cindy Grines, head of cardiology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
She pointed out that in the past, some diabetes medications could hurt the heart, but this new study shows that "there are now new drugs with beneficial cardiovascular effects."
Grines noted that fluid accumulation is a hallmark of heart failure. And because Farxiga "works by increasing the excretion of glucose in the urine, it is not surprising that it reduces heart failure."
However, she found it surprising that the drug did not reduce heart attack or stroke rates.
However, it has been shown that metformin, a drug commonly used in the treatment of diabetes, reduces the risk of these cardiac events. So, "I would choose [Farxiga] to add to metformin in patients with congestive heart failure, "added Grines.
According to Grines, patients with heart problems should avoid a class of diabetes medications in particular.
"Many studies have shown that sulfonylureas – glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride – increase cardiovascular mortality, heart attacks, and congestive heart failure," she said.
Another heart specialist has agreed that new drugs such as Farxiga improve the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes.
Farxiga is "a welcome addition to our therapeutic arsenal for reducing heart failure," said Dr. Marcin Kowalski, a cardiologist at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. "It is also encouraging that this group of drugs has not increased [negative] cardiovascular results. "
More information
The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is making more use of diabetes medications.
Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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