This diabetes drug protects the heart and kidneys

A landmark study has shown that the AstraZeneca drug, Dapagliflozin, significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in a broad range of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), as well as provides heart and kidney protection.

AstraZeneca presented the full results from the DECLARE trial last Nov. 10 at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

DECLARE is the largest study of its kind conducted to date involving more than 17,000 patients across 33 countries, including the Philippines where 337 Filipino patients were enrolled. In 2017, there were over 3,721,900 Filipinos with diabetes in the Philippines, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

Dr. Araceli Panelo, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation, says: “This is a groundbreaking development for T2D patients as DECLARE gives us hope that we may be able to prevent or delay the onset of heart failure in a broad patient population”.

Dr. Rosa Allyn Sy, lead Philippine DECLARE investigator for Endocrinology, and section head for Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and Ospital ng Makati, said: “The DECLARE study results mark an important milestone for T2D patients and its management.”

Dr. Maria Teresa Abola, lead Philippine DECLARE investigator for Cardiology, associate clinical professor of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, and acting manager of the Department of Clinical Research at the Philippine Heart Center, notes that “the results from this trial are important since heart failure is an early and frequent complication of diabetes with significant implications for patients and their families.”

Dapagliflozin is a prescription medicine. Patients should consult their physicians regarding their diabetes condition and their treatment.