Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study

Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Use and Lower Left Atrial Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume Across Metabolic Phenotypes in Atrial Fibrillation

Heart RhythmPublished

  • single-center retrospective study
  • consecutive
  • 2 prespecified multivariable linear regression models (continuous and binary covariates)
  • 1:2 propensity score matching
  • interaction analyses across metabolic phenotypes

Authors' conclusion

SGLT2i use was associated with lower LA-EATV in patients with AF after multivariable adjustment. Exploratory findings suggested that the strength of this association may vary according to metabolic phenotype, but these hypothesis-generating observations require confirmation in larger studies.

Study context

Population
Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation candidates with analyzable preprocedural contrast-enhanced computed tomographyhad analyzable contrast-enhanced computed tomography data, of 1321 candidates
Participants
1,133 candidates
Exposure
sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use is associated with lower left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume (left atrial EAT volume (LA-EATV))

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Log-transformed LA-EATV (multivariable models)
first multivariable model; lower LA-EATV with SGLT2i use
β −0.274; P = 0.01
second multivariable model; lower LA-EATV with SGLT2i use
β −0.296; P = 0.009
corresponding to approximately lower LA-EATV
25%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Outcomeβ (95% CI)P value
Log-transformed LA-EATV (propensity score-matched cohort) · inverse association · propensity score-matched−0.314 (−0.585 to −0.044)P = 0.023

Interaction across metabolic phenotypes

Strongest phenotype-stratified association in patients with hypertriglyceridemia but without obesity
P = 0.01
Significant interactions for triglyceride level and body mass index
Association stronger in patients with triglyceride ≥175 mg/dL and attenuated in those with body mass index ≥25 kg/m²
  • exploratory

Original publication

Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Use and Lower Left Atrial Epicardial Adipose Tissue Volume Across Metabolic Phenotypes in Atrial Fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 17 September 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.09.014

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it