Type 2 diabetes is considered to be one of the major predisposing factors for microvascular and macrovascular diseases. In recent years, the treatment for diabetes has broadened from glycaemic control and has become a more patient-centred approach, in which the hazard of heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is taken into consideration.

Oral diabetic drugs known as inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) promote the excretion of glucose by impeding the glucose reabsorption by the renal proximal tubules, thereby reducing plasma glucose levels. Based on current recommendations, SGLT2 inhibitors need to be considered as a second-line treatment after Metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Several randomised control trials have manifested that SGLT2 inhibitors can improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients having diabetes. 

Sodium diuresis and sodium excretion effects of Dapagliflozin last longer and are more stable compared to those of Empagliflozin. Thus, Dapagliflozin has been found to decrease the 24-hour fluctuation in blood pressure. This, in turn, is associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Currently, studies have reported that SGLT2 inhibitors have beneficial impacts on cardiovascular outcomes, but the effect differs among individual SGLT2 inhibitors. 

Dapagliflozin did not enhance plasma noradrenaline and aldosterone levels compared to Empagliflozin, which could be beneficial for the prevention of heart failure. 

The recommended dose at which Dapagliflozin must be started is 5 mg once a day, and the dosage can be escalated to 10 mg once daily in patients who require additional glycaemic control. Empagliflozin is recommended at a starting dosage of 10 mg daily.

A clinical study compared the effects of Dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. It was inferred that the risks of developing stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac-related death were not significantly different among the patients receiving Dapagliflozin or Empagliflozin. It is suggested that SGLT2 inhibitors can decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but the study did not find any significant difference in the effectivity of Dapagliflozin and Empagliflozin