Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Empagliflozin in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) may be beneficial in reducing heart failure (HF) hospitalizations in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction according to MRA background therapy has not been reported.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of empagliflozin in MRA users and nonusers in the EMPEROR-Preserved (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial.

Methods: Survival analyses were conducted comparing the effects of empagliflozin vs placebo in MRA users and nonusers at baseline with treatment-by-MRA use interaction terms.

Results: A total of 5,988 patients were included, of whom 2,244 (37.5%) were using MRAs at baseline. MRA users had higher event rates than MRA nonusers (placebo group primary outcome 9.4 vs 8.2 events per 100 person-years). The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users (HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.62-0.87] and HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.71-1.06]; interaction P = 0.22). The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers than in MRA users (HR: 0.60 [95% CI: 0.47-0.77] and HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.68-1.19]; interaction P = 0.038). MRA users experienced almost twice as many hyperkalemia events as MRA nonusers, and empagliflozin reduced the risk for hyperkalemia or initiation of potassium binders regardless of MRA use (MRA nonusers: HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.69-1.19]; MRA users: HR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.56-0.96]; interaction P = 0.29).

Conclusions: The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users. The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers. Empagliflozin reduced hyperkalemia, with no significant treatment-by-MRA subgroup interaction. (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [EMPEROR-Preserved]; NCT03057951).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03057951 NCT03057977.

Keywords: empagliflozin; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; hyperkalemia; mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists; treatment effect.