Cardiometabolic & kidneyRandomised controlled trial
Empagliflozin and functional aerobic capacity in individuals with increased risk of heart failure: The Empire Prevent Cardiac trial
- investigator-initiated, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Authors' conclusion
Empagliflozin did not affect VO2 max, physical activity level, or QoL in elderly individuals with overweight or obesity and risk of HF.
Study context
- Population
- Elderly individuals with body mass index >28 kg/m² and at least one additional risk factor for heart failure (HF) (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, or chronic kidney disease), without HF or type 2 diabetes mellitusempagliflozin 94 · placebo 97
- Participants
- 191 randomized individuals
- Comparison
- empagliflozin compared to placebo
- empagliflozinn = 94
- placebon = 97
- Primary endpoint
- Mean difference in change of VO2 max
- Follow-up
- 180 days
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Estimated treatment difference
−0.2 mL/min/kg
97.5% CI −1.2 to 0.8
adjusted P = 1.00
empagliflozin vs placebo
estimated treatment difference −0.2 mL/min/kg (97.5% CI −1.2 to 0.8); adjusted P = 1.00
Secondary outcomes
Baseline characteristics
- hypertension
- 89%
- ischemic heart disease
- 66%
- male
- 69%
- median age
- 68 years
- median body mass index
- 31.9 kg/m²
- mean left ventricular ejection fraction
- 65 ± 9%
- mean VO₂ max
- 18.1 ± 4.3 mL/min/kg
Daily physical activity (secondary) and quality of life (QoL) (explorative)
- No significant treatment differences
Original publication
Empagliflozin and functional aerobic capacity in individuals with increased risk of heart failure: The Empire Prevent Cardiac trial. Am Heart J. Published 7 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2026.107398
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it