Abstract 4125300: Prognostic Value of NT-proBNP and the H ₂ FPEF Score on Empagliflozin-associated Left Ventricular Remodeling: Insights from the EMPA-HEART and EMPA-HEART 2 CardioLink Trial

Background: NT-proBNP is a prognostic and diagnostic marker for heart failure while the H 2 FPEF score is used to aid in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Aims: These post hoc analyses of the randomized controlled EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 and EMPA-HEART 2 CardioLink-7 trials examined how baseline NT-proBNP and the H 2 FPEF score influenced empagliflozin-associated left ventricular (LV) remodeling in people with either type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease or without diabetes but with cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: A total of 242 participants were assigned to either empagliflozin 10 mg QD (n=118) or placebo (n=124) for 6 months. NT-proBNP was measured and cardiac MRI performed at baseline and end-of-study. Two independent analyses were performed. One divided the participants into those with baseline NT-proBNP < and ≧125 pg/mL and the other into those with H 2 FPEF score ≦2 and ≧3. The relationships between empagliflozin-associated LV mass and functional changes with baseline NT-proBNP and H 2 FPEF scores were assessed with linear models that adjusted for baseline differences (ANCOVA). Results: Mean age of the pooled cohort was 60.6 years; 14.0% were females, 37.2% had type 2 diabetes. Mean (SD) LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 58.0 (10.2) %; median (IQR) NT-proBNP 77.5 (33, 164) pg/mL; mean (SD) H 2 FPEF score 2.9 (1.4). Empagliflozin (vs placebo) did not significantly alter LV mass index (mean [SD] -1.35 g/m 2 [0.75]; P=0.07) and LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi; mean [SD] -1.37 mL/m 2 [0.74]; P=0.07) but did improve LVEF (mean [SD] 2.08% [0.82]; P=0.01). The effect of empagliflozin based on the subgroups of baseline NT-proBNP and H 2 FPEF scores are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions: These post hoc analyses suggest that lower baseline NT-proBNP levels and H 2 FPEF scores may be associated with more favourable reverse LV remodelling by empagliflozin and should be validated in larger studies.