Drugs tied to survival in weak-pumping heart failure and active cancer
Over three years, 31.0% of patients taking the drugs died, compared with 39.7% of matched patients taking neither.
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Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Adults with heart failure involving reduced pumping ability and active cancer were compared in a retrospective observational study across 113 healthcare organizations. Researchers matched 3,622 people prescribed empagliflozin or dapagliflozin within a year of heart failure diagnosis with 3,622 prescribed neither. Cancer treatment within six months confirmed active disease.
Drug use was associated with lower mortality and less progression to advanced chronic kidney disease over three years (8.8% versus 11.9%). Acute kidney injury rates were similar on time-to-event analysis. Urinary tract infections affected 24.1% versus 23.4%. Diabetic ketoacidosis—a dangerous acid buildup in the blood—was recorded in 21.4% versus 15.3%. The authors said this likely reflected chemotherapy-related high blood sugar captured by the outcome definition rather than true ketoacidosis.
Why it matters
Heart failure and cancer both affect health in later life. Landmark trials of this drug class excluded people with both reduced-pumping heart failure and active cancer, leaving uncertainty about these medicines for people facing both conditions.
Caveats
Cancer or heart failure severity may have differed between people prescribed the drugs and those not prescribed them, despite matching. The findings were reported in a conference abstract.
The paper
Howard Univ Hosp; Howard Univ College of Medicine
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract, Nov 2, 2026
Presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026, abstract 15216
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