DAPAgliflozine to attenuate cardiac RemOdeling afTEr aCuTe myOcardial infarction (DAPA-PROTECTOR)
After a heart attack, the heart muscle can become damaged, weakened, or enlarged. This can lead to long-term heart failure. This clinical trial is testing a medicine called dapagliflozin to see if it can help the heart heal and pump better following a heart attack. Dapagliflozin is already used for diabetes and certain heart conditions. In this study, adult patients who have recently had a heart attack will be split into two groups. One group will take a dapagliflozin tablet once a day for six months, while the other group will take a dummy tablet called a placebo. Doctors will use painless ultrasound heart scans (echocardiograms) and blood tests to check if the medicine improves heart strength, reduces fluid build-up, and prevents hospital visits. The findings could help doctors improve future care for heart attack patients across the NHS.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Having a heart attack can be a frightening experience, and recovery takes time. When a heart attack happens, part of the heart muscle loses its blood supply and can become damaged. Over the weeks and months that follow, the heart often tries to cope by stretching or changing shape. Doctors call this 'cardiac remodelling'. While the heart does this to keep blood moving, it can unfortunately weaken the heart over time and lead to a long-term condition called heart failure.
This trial, called DAPA-PROTECTOR, is exploring whether a medicine named dapagliflozin can protect the heart during this crucial recovery window. Dapagliflozin is an established treatment for type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure, but researchers want to know if giving it straight after a heart attack stops the heart from enlarging and helps it pump more strongly.
To find out, researchers are comparing dapagliflozin against a dummy pill, known as a placebo. Half of the participants will take the active medicine, and the other half will take the placebo. By checking both groups over six months with heart scans and routine tests, the study team hopes to discover if the treatment can lower the risk of further heart problems, cut hospital readmissions, and help people live longer, healthier lives.
Key takeaways
- The DAPA-PROTECTOR trial is testing if dapagliflozin helps the heart heal after a heart attack.
- Participants take one tablet a day for six months, which will be either the real drug or a dummy pill (placebo).
- Heart health is tracked using safe, painless ultrasound scans and routine blood tests.
- Open to adults aged 18 and over recovering from a recent heart attack.
- Participation is entirely voluntary and will not affect your standard NHS treatment.
Who may be eligible?
This trial is open to adults aged 18 and over who have recently had a heart attack and are at risk of heart failure. Both men and women can take part, regardless of whether they have diabetes.
Because the study focuses on recovery immediately following a heart attack, participants need to be enrolled while in hospital or very soon after being discharged. People must also be able to take daily tablets and attend hospital visits for checks and scans over a six-month period.
Not everyone will be suitable to join. For safety reasons, people with severe kidney or liver problems, or those who are already taking certain medications that could clash with dapagliflozin, may not be able to participate. Your hospital doctor or cardiology team will check your detailed medical history and test results to see if joining is safe for you.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- I am aged 18 or over.
- I have recently had a heart attack and am under hospital care.
- I am able to take a daily tablet for six months.
- I am able to attend regular hospital appointments and scans over the next half year.
- I do not have severe kidney or liver disease (your doctor can confirm this).
What does participation involve?
If you take part, you will be randomly placed into one of two groups by a computer. One group will take a 10 mg dapagliflozin tablet once a day, and the other will take a matching dummy tablet (placebo). Neither you nor your doctor will know which one you are taking, which ensures the results are completely fair.
You will take the tablets every day for about six months. During this time, you will have regular hospital check-ups. These visits will include painless ultrasound scans of your heart (echocardiograms) to measure how well it pumps, simple lung ultrasounds to check for fluid, routine blood and urine tests, and body weight checks.
Your study team will also monitor how long you stay in hospital after your heart attack and check on your general wellbeing. In total, your participation will last just over six months, after which your regular NHS care will continue as normal.
Potential risks and benefits
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Common questions
What is a placebo?
A placebo is a dummy tablet that looks identical to the real medicine but contains no active ingredients. It helps researchers prove whether any improvements are truly caused by the study drug.
Will I have to pay to take part?
No. Clinical trials in the UK do not cost you anything, and all study-related medicines and tests are provided free of charge.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram (or echo) is a quick, painless ultrasound scan that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart's valves and pumping chambers.
Can I stop taking part if I change my mind?
Yes, absolutely. You can leave the study at any point without needing an excuse, and your standard medical care will carry on as normal.
Do I need to have diabetes to take part?
No. Although dapagliflozin is used to treat diabetes, this study is testing its benefits for the heart, so you do not need to have diabetes to join.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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