title: Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of a randomized, placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcome trial of empagliflozin (EMPA-REG OUTCOME™).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence concerning the importance of glucose lowering in the prevention of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes remains controversial. Given the multi-faceted pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes, it is likely that any intervention to mitigate this risk must address CV risk factors beyond glycemia alone. The SGLT-2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves glucose control, body weight and blood pressure when used as monotherapy or add-on to other antihyperglycemic agents in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the ongoing EMPA-REG OUTCOME™ trial is to determine the long-term CV safety of empagliflozin, as well as investigating potential benefits on macro-/microvascular outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who were drug-naïve (HbA1c ≥7.0% and ≤9.0%), or on background glucose-lowering therapy (HbA1c ≥7.0% and ≤10.0%), and were at high risk of CV events, were randomized (1:1:1) and treated with empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg, or placebo (double blind, double dummy) superimposed upon the standard of care. The primary outcome is time to first occurrence of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke. CV events will be prospectively adjudicated by an independent Clinical Events Committee. The trial will continue until ≥691 confirmed primary outcome events have occurred, providing a power of 90% to yield an upper limit of the adjusted 95% CI for a hazard ratio of <1.3 with a one-sided α of 0.025, assuming equal risks between placebo and empagliflozin (both doses pooled). Hierarchical testing for superiority will follow for the primary outcome and key secondary outcomes (time to first occurrence of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke or hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris) where non-inferiority is achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between Sept 2010 and April 2013, 592 clinical sites randomized and treated 7034 patients (41% from Europe, 20% from North America, and 19% from Asia). At baseline, the mean age was 63 ± 9 years, BMI 30.6 ± 5.3 kg/m2, HbA1c 8.1 ± 0.8%, and eGFR 74 ± 21 ml/min/1.73 m2. The study is expected to report in 2015.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMPA-REG OUTCOME™ will determine the CV safety of empagliflozin in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and high CV risk, with the potential to show cardioprotection.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01131676.
authors.affiliation: Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. zinman@lunenfeld.ca.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zinman
authors.forename: Silvio E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Inzucchi
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lachin
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fitchett
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bluhmki
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hantel
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kempthorne-Rawson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Odd Erik
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Hans-Juergen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Woerle
authors.forename: Uli C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Broedl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C570240:empagliflozin