UEA research finds common diabetes medicine could help cancer patients make better recovery
Analysing 88,273 cancer patients and survivors, UEA researchers found that hospital admissions for heart failure were reduced by half
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found that a common diabetes medication could help cancer patients make a better and quicker long-term recovery.
Their work found that this inhibitor - called SGLT2 - could help reduce the possibility of heart failure in those who've had the disease, or are still fighting it, by 50 per cent.
"They can improve the symptoms of heart failure"
Professor Vassilios Vassiliou, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School:
“Cancer is currently one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide.
“Chemotherapy has played an instrumental role in improving patient outcomes. But up to 20 per cent of cancer patients who have had chemotherapy go on to develop heart problems, with up to 10 per cent having heart failure.
“We know that a type of diabetes medication called SGLT2 inhibitors are recognised for their cardiovascular benefits.
"They can improve the symptoms of heart failure such as breathlessness and tiredness, and also reduce people’s risk of becoming frail.
"What this medication could achieve is a better quality of life for cancer patients, where they can stay at home more often and don't have to go into hospital or stay overnight there too often."
The findings in more detail:
Analysing 13 studies with a total of 88,273 cancer patients and survivors, the team found that hospital admissions for heart failure were reduced by half.
Researchers say this is the first time that any medication has been shown to be beneficial in reducing heart failure or heart failure hospitalisation in cancer patients and survivors.
The number of new heart failure cases appeared to fall by more than two-thirds (71 per cent) in total.
These findings suggest these pills might help protect the heart during and after cancer treatment.
However, the research team say that more research is needed to confirm these findings.
The benefits were found to be particularly promising for breast cancer patients receiving a common chemotherapy type called anthracycline chemotherapy, which can affect heart health.
This research was led by the University of East Anglia, in collaboration with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (Italy), La Paz University Hospital (Spain), Quiron Pozuelo University Hospital (Spain) and the University of Milan (Italy).
‘Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Heart Failure Outcomes in Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis' is published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.