Evaluating initiation and real-world tolerability of dapagliflozin for the management of HFrEF

Untreated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) has a one-year mortality rate of 40%. The DAPA-HF trial found that dapagliflozin reduces mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalisation by 17% and 30%, respectively. We describe the initiation and real-world tolerability of dapagliflozin for the management of HFrEF at a large university teaching hospital in central London. We reviewed 118 HFrEF patients initiated on dapagliflozin from January to August 2021 in both inpatient and outpatient settings using the Trust's electronic records. A total of 69 (58.4%) patients were on optimised HF pharmacological therapy upon initiation of dapagliflozin. Dapagliflozin was discontinued in 12 (13.0%) patients. Twenty-three (42.6%) patients either discontinued or had a dose reduction in loop diuretics post-initiation of dapagliflozin. In clinical practice, early initiation of dapagliflozin is safe, well-tolerated and resulted in earlier discontinuation or dose reduction in loop diuretics, providing opportunities to further optimise other HF medicines. This retrospective observational study supports the safety of the updated European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines to initiate all four key HF medicines to minimise delays in HF treatment optimisation, which could translate to reduced National Health Service healthcare costs through fewer HF hospitalisations.