Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on mean platelet volume in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a real-world analysis independent of diuretic therapy.

Abstract

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have emerged as cornerstone therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), owing to their cardioprotective and hematologic effects. While their impact on hemoglobin and hematocrit levels is increasingly recognized, the influence of SGLT2 inhibitors on mean platelet volume (MPV), a surrogate marker of platelet activation and cardiovascular risk, remains underexplored in HFrEF patients. While SGLT2 inhibitors' effects on MPV have been studied in DM, this is the first study examining MPV changes specifically in HFrEF patients with adjustment for diuretic therapy. This retrospective study included 80 HFrEF patients receiving guideline-directed medical therapy to which SGLT2 inhibitors were subsequently added. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data on hematological and biochemical parameters were collected. Exclusion criteria included active infection, malignancy, advanced renal failure, hematologic disorders, and recent transfusions. MPV and platelet counts were analyzed using standardized protocols and equipment. Following 6 months of SGLT2 inhibitor therapy, MPV values decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while platelet counts increased significantly (p < 0.05). Although hemoglobin and hematocrit levels showed upward trends, these changes were not statistically significant. No significant correlation was observed between ΔMPV and ΔPLT. Other biochemical markers remained stable throughout the study period. SGLT2 inhibitor therapy was associated with a significant reduction in MPV and an increase in platelet count among patients with HFrEF. These hematological changes may represent an additional mechanism by which SGLT2 inhibitors exert cardiovascular benefit. However, prospective, randomized trials are needed to validate these findings and explore the clinical significance of MPV modulation in heart failure management.