The following is a summary of “Impact of Sodium‐Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor on Recurrence After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Diabetes: A Propensity‐Score Matching Study and Meta‐Analysis,” published in the December 2023 issue of Cardiology by Zhao et al.
The relationship between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence post-catheter ablation in patients with diabetes and AF remains uncertain. This study aimed to shed light on this association. Within the China AF registry, individuals with AF undergoing initial catheter ablation and having a history of diabetes were selected. Patients on SGLT2i were matched via propensity score with non-SGLT2i users in a 1:3 ratio.
The primary outcome assessed was AF recurrence over an 18-month follow-up period. Among the 138 patients with diabetes on SGLT2i therapy and 387 without, AF recurrence occurred in 37 patients (26.8%) and 152 patients (39.3%), respectively, during 593.3 person-years of follow-up. The SGLT2i group exhibited a lower AF recurrence rate than the non-SGLT2i group (hazard ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.44–0.90], P=0.007).
Furthermore, their meta-analysis, which incorporated 4 studies, corroborated these findings, highlighting a reduced risk of AF recurrence post-catheter ablation with SGLT2i use (odds ratio, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.54–0.69]; P<0.001, I2=0.0%). In summary, their prospective study, coupled with a meta-analysis, showcases a diminished risk of AF recurrence following AF ablation among patients with diabetes who are on SGLT2i therapy.