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The prevention of heart failure (HF) development in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) represents one of the greatest challenges to date. Several studies have shown that targeting a very strict HbA1c does not reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, concluding that there are additional factors that contribute to the risk of HF, as well as mechanisms possibly related to the therapeutic agents used to lower glycemic values. All these findings led to the reconsideration of T2D management. SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), a new generation of antihyperglycemic drugs, have gained the attention of cardiologists, since they proved cardioprotective effects by reducing three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and heart failure hospitalizations in T2D patients. The mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular protection of SGLT2 inhibitors in T2D are complex and multifactorial, but not fully understood. This review discusses the onset and prognosis of heart failure in T2D patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors.

Keywords: heart failure; diabetes; SGLT2 inhibitors; CVOT trials