Mechanisms of Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure

Heart failure is an end stage cardiac disease that has been associated with high mortality and rehospitalization rates in previous decades, in spite of standard anti-heart failure therapy, thus posing a major social and economic burden on public health. Several studies have demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), anti-hyperglycemic drugs whose function is independent of islet function, have significant positive effects on prognosis and quality of life, by decreasing mortality and readmission rates in patients with heart failure. To increase general clinicians’ understanding and facilitate the practical application of SGLT2i in the treatment of heart failure, the mechanisms through which SGLT2i alleviate heart failure is reviewed herein.