The study, titled “The protective effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor on left ventricular global longitudinal strain in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to disease duration,” explores how SGLT2 inhibitors affect heart function in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Conducted by Ziying Wang and colleagues, the research involved 256 patients who were divided into groups based on their treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors and further categorized by the duration of their disease (1–5 years, 5–10 years, and 10–20 years).
Using speckle-tracking echocardiography, the researchers found that patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors had significantly improved global longitudinal strain (GLS) results at the 6-month follow-up compared to both the control group and their own baseline measurements. GLS serves as a sensitive measure of heart function, with the most notable improvements seen in patients with early-stage diabetes. Additionally, the group treated with SGLT2 inhibitors exhibited a lower rate of subclinical cardiac dysfunction, emphasizing the protective benefits of the medication.
The multivariate analysis conducted in the study indicated that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors and changes in epicardial adipose tissue thickness were independently linked to enhancements in GLS. Notably, these advantages were evident regardless of how long the patients had been diagnosed with diabetes, although the degree of improvement tended to diminish with longer disease duration. These findings suggest that starting SGLT2 inhibitor therapy early could result in more significant enhancements in heart function, highlighting the need for timely treatment.
In conclusion, the study asserts that SGLT2 inhibitors can significantly enhance left ventricular systolic function in type 2 diabetes patients who do not have cardiovascular complications. The application of speckle-tracking echocardiography offered valuable insights into the cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, reinforcing their potential to lower the risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with diabetes.
