Empagliflozin, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes

In this study, the addition of empagliflozin, an inhibitor of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2, to standard care reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk. Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, 1 , 2 and the presence of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease increases the risk of death. 3 Evidence that glucose lowering reduces the rates of cardiovascular events and death has not been convincingly shown, 4 – 6 although a modest cardiovascular benefit may be observed after a prolonged follow-up period. 7 Furthermore, there is concern that intensive glucose lowering or the use of specific glucose-lowering drugs may be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. 8 Therefore, it is necessary to establish the cardiovascular safety benefits of glucose-lowering agents. 9 Inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 reduce . . .