SGLT2 Inhibitors Seem to Decrease the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation

Sodium-glucose cotransport 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve diverse outcomes, including heart failure for patients with diabetes. In a nonprespecified reanalysis of data from the manufacturer-funded, randomized, placebo-controlled DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial, investigators evaluated whether the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin decreased the risk for atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF/AFL). AF/AFL was not an endpoint or an adjudicated event in the trial but was reported as an adverse event.

The 17,160 patients had type 2 diabetes plus known coronary artery disease (CAD) or multiple risk factors for CAD. At a median follow-up of 4 years, dapagliflozin reduced the risk for AF/AFL events by 19%, compared with placebo (events/1000 years, 7.8 vs. 9.6). …