Empagliflozin, Cardiovascular Outcomes, and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers assigned 7,020 adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease to take empagliflozin or a look-alike inactive pill, alongside their usual care. After about 3 years, the medicine lowered the risk of dying from heart-related causes by 38%. It also lowered the risk of dying from any cause by 32% and reduced hospital stays for heart failure, when the heart cannot pump enough blood, by 35%. It did not clearly prevent heart attacks or strokes. Some people developed genital infections, a known side effect of this medicine.

What this means for you: This is strong evidence that empagliflozin can help certain high-risk people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who already have heart disease. It is a prescription medicine, not something to buy casually, and these results may not apply as strongly to people without existing heart disease.