Do SGLT-2 Inhibitors Reduce Cancer-Related Cardiotoxicity?

Sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors reduce cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF) in patients with diabetes. Now, a new retrospective analysis suggests they also may be beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer therapy–related cardiac dysfunction.

Using data from U.S. electronic health records, researchers identified two propensity-matched cohorts of 8675 patients each (mean age, ≈65 years; 42% women) of individuals with cancer, diabetes, no prior history of cardiomyopathy and HF, and exposure to potentially cardiotoxic cancer medications (anthracyclines, ≈25%). At the start of cancer treatment, one cohort was on SGLT-2 inhibitors and the other was not.

Within 12 months after initiating cancer therapy, SGLT-2 inhibitor use was a…