Efficacy of Dapagliflozin in Black Versus White Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction

JACC Heart Fail. 2022 Jan;10(1):52-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jchf.2021.08.006. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in Black and White patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) enrolled in DAPA-HF (Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on the Incidence of Worsening Heart Failure or Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure).

Background: Black patients may respond differently to certain treatments for HFrEF than White patients.

Methods: Patients with New York Heart Association functional class II to IV with an ejection fraction of ≤40% and elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were eligible for DAPA-HF. Because >99% of Black patients were randomized in the Americas, this post hoc analysis considered Black and White patients enrolled only in North and South America. The primary outcome was the composite of a worsening HF event (HF hospitalization or urgent HF visit requiring intravenous therapy) or cardiovascular death.

Results: Of the 4,744 patients randomized in DAPA-HF, 1,494 (31.5%) were enrolled in the Americas. Of these, 1,181 (79.0%) were White, and 225 (15.1%) were Black. Black patients had a higher rate of worsening HF events, but not mortality, compared with White patients. Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary endpoint similarly in Black patients (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.37-1.03) and White patients (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.52-0.90; P-interaction = 0.70). Consistent benefits were observed for other prespecified outcomes, including the composite of total (first and repeat) HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular death (P-interaction = 0.43) and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score. Study drug discontinuation and serious adverse events were not more frequent in the dapagliflozin group than in the placebo group in either Black or White patients.

Conclusions: Dapagliflozin reduced the risk of worsening HF and cardiovascular death, and it improved symptoms, similarly in Black and White patients without an increase in adverse events. (Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on the Incidence of Worsening Heart Failure or Cardiovascular Death in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure [DAPA-HF]; NCT03036124).

Keywords: dapagliflozin; heart failure; hospitalization; mortality; sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzhydryl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Benzhydryl Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Glucosides / pharmacology
  • Glucosides / therapeutic use
  • Heart Failure*
  • Humans
  • Stroke Volume

Substances

  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Glucosides
  • dapagliflozin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03036124