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. 2025 Sep 3;14(4):e00334.
doi: 10.1097/XCE.0000000000000334. eCollection 2025 Dec.

BRIDGE-DS study: evaluating the effectiveness and safety of dapagliflozin/sitagliptin combination in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with heart failure

Kandanat Purushothaman Nair Suresh Kumar  1 , Manikandan Thiruvanath Variam  2 , Bala Vignesh S  3 , Kshitiz Nath  4 , Kailash Kumar Goyal  5 , Gaurav Beswal  6 , Prashanth Arun  7 , Kiran Narayan  8 , S P Sathish Kumar  9 , V Ravindranath  10 , Nishant Tripathy  11 , Bharat Kumar Kalra  12 , Pranabes Ray  13 , Pooja Garg  14 , Anil Laul  15 , Sunil Dhand  16 , Sajal Kamat  17 , Rohan Narayan Kesarkar  18 , Ashish Prasad  18 , Abhijit Pednekar  18
Affiliations

BRIDGE-DS study: evaluating the effectiveness and safety of dapagliflozin/sitagliptin combination in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with heart failure

Kandanat Purushothaman Nair Suresh Kumar et al. Cardiovasc Endocrinol Metab. .

Abstract

Background: Co-occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure (HF) elevates the risk of morbidity and mortality. Recent research emphasizes treatment strategies that go beyond glycemic control to enhance heart function.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the fixed-drug combination of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin (FDC D/S) in T2DM patients with HF.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study that included data from 168 T2DM patients with HF receiving treatment with FDC D/S. Outcome parameters included glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), hypertension, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and adverse events.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.5 ± 10.5 years. Most patients had comorbidities such as hypertension (86.3%) and dyslipidemia (75%), with more than 53% being obese. A significant (P < 0.0001) reduction was observed in HbA1c, FPG, PPG, and NT-proBNP levels, and in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after 3 months of treatment with FDC D/S, while a significant (P < 0.0001) increase was observed in ejection fraction and eGFR, indicating improved glycemic control and heart function. Urinary tract infections (29.8%), dehydration (17.9%), hypoglycemia (14.9%), and genital mycotic infection (6.6%) were the common adverse events encountered with FDC D/S.

Conclusion: FDC D/S enhances glycemic control in T2DM patients with HF, leading to reductions in HbA1c, FPG, PPG, and cardiovascular risk factors such as NT-proBNP, SBP, and DBP, while also improving eGFR. The FDC D/S was generally well-tolerated, making it an effective and convenient treatment option.

Keywords: adverse effects; dapagliflozin; drug combinations; heart failure; sitagliptin; treatment outcome; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The present study was initiated and supported by USV Private Limited. The authors R.N.K., A.P., and A.P. are employees of USV and for the remaining authors, there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Enhanced effects of combining SGLT2 inhibitors and DPP4 inhibitors in patients with T2DM. DPP4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4; SGLT2, sodium–glucose cotransporter-2; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Results (mean ± SD) obtained before and after treatment for (a) HbA1c, (b) FPG, (c) PPG, (d) NT-proBNP, (e) 2D ECHO, (f) SBP, (g) DBP, and (h) eGFR. A significant difference (P < 0.0001) was observed for all parameters. DBP, diastolic blood pressure; ECHO, echocardiography; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; NT-proBNP, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; PPG, postprandial plasma glucose; SBP, systolic blood pressure.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Adverse events reported with the use of FDC D/S. FDC D/S, fixed-drug combination of dapagliflozin and sitagliptin; UTI, urinary tract infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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