Pulse - A fib or fact? Anti-arrhythmic effects of SLGT-2 inhibitor

February 22, 2023

New medications and new guidelines are constantly being released. Pharmacists need a mechanism to keep up with these new medications and guidelines.

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have both an association with diabetes and increase individual mortality risk. Potential associations between arrhythmias and hyperglycemia include myocardial remodeling leading to inflammation and cardiac fibrosis, thus altering atrial electrical patterns. While this association has been identified, conflicting evidence exists regarding the use of antihyperglycemic therapy and its relation to increasing or decreasing arrythmia development. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors including empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and canagliflozin, lower glucose levels by blocking reabsorption of glucose in the renal tubules. Additionally, SGLT-2 inhibitors may prevent development of arrhythmias by reducing patient body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, epicardial adipose tissue, atrial dilation, and increasing serum magnesium levels. This presentation will review evidence related to the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors and prevention of arrhythmias.

Target Audience

Pharmacist

Learning Objectives

Describe the relationship between diseases treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors and arrhythmias
Discuss evidence related to the association with SGLT-2 inhibitors and anti-arrhythmic effects
Interpret how presented evidence could be utilized in clinical practice

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Course opens: 
02/22/2023
Course expires: 
03/22/2023
Event starts: 
02/22/2023 - 12:00pm EST
Event ends: 
02/22/2023 - 1:00pm EST

New medications and new guidelines are constantly being released. Pharmacists need a mechanism to keep up with these new medications and guidelines.

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have both an association with diabetes and increase individual mortality risk. Potential associations between arrhythmias and hyperglycemia include myocardial remodeling leading to inflammation and cardiac fibrosis, thus altering atrial electrical patterns. While this association has been identified, conflicting evidence exists regarding the use of antihyperglycemic therapy and its relation to increasing or decreasing arrythmia development. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors including empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and canagliflozin, lower glucose levels by blocking reabsorption of glucose in the renal tubules. Additionally, SGLT-2 inhibitors may prevent development of arrhythmias by reducing patient body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, epicardial adipose tissue, atrial dilation, and increasing serum magnesium levels. This presentation will review evidence related to the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors and prevention of arrhythmias.

UPMC Mercy
Pittsburgh, PA
United States

Jason Walker, PharmD

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Pharmacy (CPE)

This knowledge-based activity provides 1.0 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit.

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    The UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a Provider of continuing pharmacy education.
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