Ertugliflozin effective for BP reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes

Ertugliflozin appears to be effective for blood pressure (BP) reduction in diabetes patients.

Patients with type 2 diabetes treated with ertugliflozin 5 mg and 15 mg for 26 weeks reduces systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and pulse rate and is well tolerated compared with placebo, according to a recent study published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology. SBP reduction was consistent across patient subgroups.

Diabetes patients are commonly manifested with a complication of hypertension (increased blood pressure) -- an established risk factor for cardiovascular (CV), cerebrovascular, and renal disease. So, BP control in such patients becomes significant as cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in diabetes patients.

Ertugliflozin, a sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, has been shown to be efficient for BP and glycemic control in phase 3 studies. To further evaluate the effects of ertugliflozin on BP and other hemodynamic parameters, Jie Liu, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, and colleagues conducted this analysis on the pooled patient populations from these studies.

For the study, the researchers conducted a post hoc analysis of data from three phase 3 studies of 1544 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received placebo, ertugliflozin 5 mg, or ertugliflozin 15 mg. Outcomes at 26 weeks were analyzed for the pooled population and according to relevant baseline factors, including BP.

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They found that:

• Mean baseline BP was similar across treatment groups (placebo, 129.7/78.0 mmHg; ertugliflozin 5 mg, 131.0/78.4 mmHg; ertugliflozin 15 mg, 130.5/78.4 mmHg).


• At Week 26, placebo-adjusted least squares (LS) mean changes (95% confidence intervals [CI]) from baseline in systolic BP (SBP) were − 3.7 mmHg (− 5.1, − 2.3) for both ertugliflozin doses. Reductions were consistent across all baseline subgroups.


• At Week 26, more patients with a baseline SBP ≥ 130 mmHg had an SBP < 130 mmHg with ertugliflozin (38.7% both doses) than with placebo (24.0%), and more patients with a baseline SBP ≥ 140 mmHg attained an SBP < 140 mmHg with ertugliflozin (59.5% [5 mg] and 66.7% [15 mg]) than with placebo (43.8%).


• Placebo-adjusted LS mean changes (95% CI) in diastolic BP (DBP) with ertugliflozin 5 mg and 15 mg were − 1.8 mmHg (− 2.7, − 0.9) and − 1.6 mmHg (− 2.5, −  0.7), respectively, and in pulse rate were − 1.3 beats per minute (bpm) (− 2.2, − 0.3) and − 1.5 bpm (− 2.5, − 0.6), respectively.


• Greater reductions in pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure and double product were observed with ertugliflozin than with placebo.


• Incidence of adverse event-related osmotic diuresis was low, but greater with ertugliflozin (2.9% [5 mg], 2.4% [15 mg]) than placebo (1.0%).

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"The SBP effect was consistent across patient subgroups and reductions in BP were achieved without an increase in pulse rate," concluded the authors.

For detailed study follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-019-0856-7