Improvements of myocardial strain and work in diabetes patients with normal ejection fraction after empagliflozin treatment

Aims/Introduction

To assess the effect of empagliflozin treatment on left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV) and left atrial (LA) functions in diabetes patients with normal ejection fraction.

Materials and Methods

The study included a total of 128 diabetes patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who were subjected to a 6-month follow up from the initiation of empagliflozin treatment. Before and after treatment with empagliflozin, LV, RV and LA strain, and noninvasive myocardial work parameters were evaluated by speckle tracking echocardiography.

Results

In 128 diabetes patients (mean age 56 ± 8 years, 85 men) with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, myocardial strain and work parameters were impaired, despite the absence of significant clinical symptoms of heart failure. After 6-month treatment with empagliflozin, the absolute value of LV strain in all directions increased, represented by LV global longitudinal strain (−18.0 ± 1.7% to −19.2 ± 1.7% [mean ± SD]). The same trend in LV global work efficiency (93 [91–94] % to 94 [93–95] % [median (IQR)]), RV free-wall longitudinal strain (−24.0 ± 2.7% to −25.0 ± 2.8%), LA reservoir (31 ± 5% to 34 ± 5%) and conduit strain (−14 ± 4% to −16 ± 4%) was also observed. LV mass index (106.9 ± 16.8–103.6 ± 16.4 g/m²) and LV global wasted work (143 [111–185] mmHg% to 108 [88–141] mmHg%) decreased after treatment (P < 0.05 for all). LV volume and LA volume index remained unchanged after treatment. In the multivariable analysis, the change in LA reservoir strain (β = 0.050, P = 0.035) and baseline global longitudinal strain (β = −0.488, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of improvement in LV global longitudinal strain.

Conclusions

This study suggests that 6-month treatment with empagliflozin improved LV, RV and LA functions in diabetes patients with normal ejection fraction.