Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Show Promise in Reducing Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Cancer Patients

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Zanjan University of Medical Science have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on patients with cancer and diabetes undergoing cardiotoxic cancer treatment. The study, published in Cardio-Oncology, found that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced mortality, heart failure hospitalization, arrhythmia, and drug adverse events in patients with cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • The systematic review and meta-analysis included 11 studies with 88,096 patients with confirmed cancer, of which 20,538 received SGLT2 inhibitors and 67,558 did not.
  • Patients who received SGLT2 inhibitors had a significantly lower mortality rate than those who did not receive SGLT2 inhibitors, with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.46 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.63, p-value <0.00001).
  • SGLT2 inhibitors reduced heart failure hospitalization, arrhythmia, and drug adverse events, such as ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, urinary tract infection, and sepsis.
  • The study concluded that SGLT2 inhibitors could be a potentially ideal candidate to prevent cardiotoxicity of cancer therapies.

Statistics:

  • 88,096 patients with confirmed cancer were included in the 11 studies.
  • 20,538 patients received SGLT2 inhibitors, with a mean age of 61.68 ± 10.71 years.
  • 67,558 patients did not receive SGLT2 inhibitors, with a mean age of 68.24 ± 9.48 years.
  • SGLT2 inhibitors reduced mortality rate by 54% (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.63, p-value <0.00001).
  • The study found a significant reduction in heart failure hospitalization, arrhythmia, and drug adverse events in patients who received SGLT2 inhibitors.

Sources:

  • The effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and mortality in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardio-Oncology, 2025,11(1):1-15.
  • Cardio-Oncology. https://cardiooncologyjournal.biomedcentral.com/ (BMC publisher).
  • doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s40959-025-00343-4.