1Department of General Surgery, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
2Department of Oral Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
3Meenakshi College of Nursing, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
4Meenakshi College of Pharmacy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
5Meenakshi College of Physiotherapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
Background: As the primary care intervention, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have proven to be a major heart failure treatment with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), as it shows significant mortality and rehospitalization rates reduction in the ionic trials. Although there are positive recommendations on the usage of guidelines, their application in reality during hospitalization is inconsistent and slow.
Objective: To assess the current trends in prescribing SGLT-2 inhibitors in hospitalized patients with HFrEF and determine clinical, demographic, and other system-related variables related to in-hospital initiation.
Method: This was a retrospective cohort study that used a multi-center health system of adults having the primary diagnosis of HFrEF between 2020 and 2024. Demographic, comorbidities, renal, hemodynamics, medication use, and discharge prescriptions were collected using the electronic health records. The achieved outcome was mainly in-hospital initiation of an SGLT-2 inhibitor. Secondary outcomes were the eligibility at admission and the recording of contraindications.
Results: Few patients out of the pool of eligible patients were started on SGLT-2 inhibitors at hospital. The initiation was closely related to younger age, well-preserved renal function, increased systolic blood pressure, and care led by cardiology. The contraindications were rarely documented, and the missed opportunities of initiation were typical. The rate of discharge initiation increased slightly with time.
Conclusion: In-hospital SGLT-2 inhibitor initiation among HFrEF patients is still not ideal, even with its strong evidence and guideline recommendations. Elevated methods of clinical pathways and education can assist in evidence-to-practice transformation.
Keywords: SGLT-2 inhibitors, renal function, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, clinical implementation, cardiovascular outcomes
How to cite this article: Aravind P, Jeyaseelan R, Anitha J, Rajasekhar KK, Kumar SS, Pugazhendhi S. Contemporary Use of SGLT-2 Inhibitors among Patients Hospitalized for HFrEF: Translating Evidence into Practice. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 127-134; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.18
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None