New research shows that the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on symptoms and quality of life in patients with heart failure extend to canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Janssen).

Canagliflozin 100 mg daily bested placebo by a mean of 4.3 points for the primary outcome of 12-week change in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) total symptom score (P = .016). The curves separated as early as 2 weeks and the benefit was sustained out to 3 months.

Further, the effect size was comparable regardless of a patient's ejection fraction or diabetes status, John A. Spertus, MD, MPH, Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, reported virtually at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2021.

When the Canagliflozin Impact on Health Status, Quality of Life, and Functional Status in Heart Failure (CHIEF-HF) trial was being developed, few data were available on the health status benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors, and canagliflozin did not yet have an indication for heart failure, he noted. The trial ultimately launched the week the United States shut down due to COVID-19 and was completed during the pandemic.

Read the full Medscape article: Canagliflozin Improves HF Symptoms in Fully Remote Trial