Effects of canagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure: a randomized trial (CANDLE)

Aims Little is known about the impact of sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on cardiac biomarkers, such as natriuretic peptides, in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with concomitant chronic heart failure (CHF). We compared the effect of canagliflozin with glimepiride, based on changes in N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), in that patient population. Methods and results Patients with T2D and stable CHF, randomized to receive canagliflozin 100 mg or glimepiride (starting‐dose: 0.5 mg), were examined using the primary endpoint of non‐inferiority of canagliflozin vs. glimepiride, defined as a margin of 1.1 in the upper limit of the two‐sided 95% confidence interval (CI) for the group ratio of percentage change in NT‐proBNP at 24 weeks. Data analysis of 233 patients showed mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at randomization was 57.6 ± 14.6%, with 71% of patients having a preserved LVEF (≥50%). Ratio of NT‐proBNP percentage change was 0.48 (95% CI, −0.13 to 1.59, P = 0.226) and therefore did not meet the prespecified non‐inferiority margin. However, NT‐proBNP levels did show a non‐significant trend lower in the canagliflozin group [adjusted group difference; −74.7 pg/mL (95% CI, −159.3 to 10.9), P = 0.087] and also in the subgroup with preserved LVEF [−58.3 (95% CI, −127.6 to 11.0, P = 0.098]). Conclusions This study did not meet the predefined primary endpoint of changes in NT‐proBNP levels, with 24 weeks of treatment with canagliflozin vs. glimepiride. Further research is warranted to determine whether patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, regardless of diabetes status, could potentially benefit from treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors.