Dapagliflozin Improves Vascular Stiffness and Cardiorenal Hemodynamics: New Insights from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Research Highlights

The following key findings emerged from this randomized controlled trial investigating the systemic effects of dapagliflozin in patients at cardiovascular risk: 1. Dapagliflozin significantly reduced vascular arterial stiffness, evidenced by a 7.4 percent reduction in the aortic augmentation index over 12 weeks compared to placebo. 2. The drug induced an acute and sustained reduction in extracellular fluid and thoracic fluid content, suggesting a potent and durable decongestive effect. 3. Renal hemodynamic changes, including a modest reduction in measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR), were linked to increased proximal sodium excretion and elevated urinary adenosine levels, pointing to the activation of tubuloglomerular feedback. 4. These cardiorenal benefits were observed in patients both with and without type 2 diabetes, reinforcing the role of SGLT2 inhibitors as foundational therapy in cardiovascular risk management.

Background: Expanding the Scope of SGLT2 Inhibition