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Impact of Empagliflozin on Functional Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Impact of Empagliflozin on Functional Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05139472
Enrollment
8
Registered
2021-12-01
Start date
2021-11-09
Completion date
2024-02-19
Last updated
2024-09-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Heart Failure, Diastolic, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Keywords

Exercise, Invasive Exercise Testing, SGLT-2 Inhibitors

Brief summary

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors generally and empagliflozin specifically have shown cardiovascular benefits in patients with heart failure (HF), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Empagliflozin use resulted in lower pulmonary artery diastolic pressures in patients with HF, suggesting a beneficial diuretic effect. Other potential mechanisms include increased blood volume, decreased blood pressure, and changes in sympathetic and neuro-hormonal activation. This study is a single-arm, open label, prospective interventional study of 8 subjects with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Before and after 12 weeks of daily empagliflozin, participants with undergo comprehensive invasive exercise testing with a right heart catheter. Our goal is to evaluate the effects of empagliflozin on fitness, assessed by peak VO2, and peak left ventricular filling pressure, assessed by pulmonary capillary pressure at peak exercise.

Detailed description

This is a single-arm, open label, pilot study of 8 subjects with HFpEF. The subjects will undergo screening tests (exercise stress echo and blood work) to evaluate for potential exclusion criteria and provide familiarization to the exercise protocol. Those included will undergo an echocardiogram and invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test. This involves placement of a right heart catheter in the pulmonary artery and undergoing seated, upright exercise. During the exercise test, the subject's oxygen uptake (VO2), intra-cardiac pressures (right atrial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) and cardiac output (Qc) will be measured. The subject will take a dose of empagliflozin in the lab and wait for at least 60 minutes. They will repeat a shortened version of the exercise test in the afternoon. After baseline testing, each subject will take 10mg empagliflozin daily for 12 weeks. They will have repeat blood work (specific electrolytes and renal function) 30 days after starting medication to screen for renal injury. After 12 weeks, they will return for another invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test and echocardiogram.

Interventions

DRUGEmpagliflozin 10 MG

Daily Empagliflozin

Sponsors

Boehringer Ingelheim
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Single arm, open label trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* adults ages 50-85 * clinical heart failure * ejection fraction \> 50%

Exclusion criteria

* previous hypersensitivity or adverse reaction to SGLT-2 inhibitors * currently treated with SGLT-2 inhibitor * current or prior ejection fraction \<50% * chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate \< 45 ml/kg/min * unstable coronary artery disease * significant arrhythmia * BMI \>55 kg/m2 * inability to exercise.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Peak Oxygen Uptake12 weeksPeak VO2 measured on maximal exercise test
Peak Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure (PCWP)12 weeksPeak PCWP, measured at end-expiration, at the end of maximal exercise test

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Stroke Volume at Rest and During Exercise12 weeks
Right Atrial Pressure at Rest and During Exercise12 weeks
Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure at Rest and During Submaximal Exercise12 weeks
Primary Endpoints after single dose of empagliflozin1 hourPeak VO2 and peak PCWP will be measured after a single dose of empagliflozin
Hemoglobin mass, plasma volume, total blood volume12 weeksMeasured by Carbon Monoxide Rebreathe
Diastolic parameters at rest and during submaximal exercise12 weeksMeasured by echocardiography
6 minute walk time12 weeks
Left ventricular volumes at rest and during submaximal exercise12 weeksMeasured by echocardiography
Cardiac Output at Rest and During Exercise12 weeks

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026