Systematic Review of the Economic Evaluation of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Used as Treatment in Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been recently used as therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent clinical trials have shown that they are beneficial for reducing the risk of cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure (HF). A comprehensive review regarding the cost-effectiveness of different SGLT2 inhibitors for HF treatment may be necessary to help clinicians and decision-makers select the most cost-effective HF treatment option. Objective: This study conducted a systematic review of economic evaluation studies of SGLT2 inhibitors for the treatment of patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Method: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and EBSCOhost to identify published economic evaluation studies on SGLT2 inhibitors for HF treatment until May 2023. Studies on the economic evaluation of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of HF were included. We extracted information such as country, population, intervention, type of model, health status, and conclusion of cost-effectiveness. Result: Of the 410 studies, 27 were finally selected. All economic evaluation studies used the Markov model, and commonly included health status as stable HF, hospitalization due to HF, and death. All dapagliflozin studies focused on patients with HFrEF (n = 13), and dapagliflozin was cost-effective in 14 countries, but not in the Philippines. All empagliflozin studies focused on the patients with HFrEF also showed the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin (n = 11). However, empagliflozin use in patients with HFpEF was determined to be cost-effective in studies in Finland, China, and Australia studies but not in studies in Thailand and the USA. Conclusions: Most of the studies reported the cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in patients with HFrEF. However, the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin differed from country to country regarding patients with HFpEF. We suggest that further economic evaluation of SGLT2 inhibitors should focus on patients with HFpEF in more countries.