Butler J, Filippatos G, Siddiqi TJ, et al. - Heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients showed a decrease in the risk for major HF outcomes across the range of baseline Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) scores when they were treated with empagliflozin. An improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was brought about by empagliflozin, an effect that appeared early and was sustained for at least one year.

• Empagliflozin’s efficacy on HRQoL was assessed in patients with HFpEF in the EMPEROR-Preserved, as well as it was investigated if the clinical benefit due to empagliflozin differs based on baseline health status.

• Across baseline KCCQ Clinical Summary Score (CSS) tertiles, a consistent impact of empagliflozin on decreasing the risk of time to cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization was evident (HR 0.83, HR 0.70 and HR 0.82 for scores <62.5, 62.5-83.3 and ≥83.3, respectively).

• Similar outcomes were reported for total HF hospitalizations.

• Empagliflozin led to significant improvement in KCCQ-CSS than placebo (+1.03, +1.24 and +1.50 at 12, 32 and 52 weeks, respectively); similar findings were obtained for Total Symptom Score (TSS) and Overall Summary Score (OSS).

• At 12 weeks, empagliflozin was linked with higher odds of improvement ≥5 points (OR 1.23), ≥10 points (1.15), and ≥15 points (1.13) and lower odds of deterioration ≥5 points in KCCQ-CSS (0.85).

• At 32 and 52 weeks, a similar pattern was witnessed, and outcomes were consistent for TSS and OSS.