SGLT2 inhibitors combat kidney complications in adults, study reveals

Individuals on SGLT2 inhibitors are 37 per cent less likely to develop kidney disease or acute kidney injury compared to those not taking the medication, new evidence shows.

A team of researchers have found that these drugs can protect everyone from progressing renal problems, irrespective of their diabetes status, kidney function or whether they have primary kidney disease.

As part of the study, the scientists conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 SGLT2 inhibitor trials by analysing the MEDLINE and Embase databases.

The trials under examination involved 90,413 participants with diabetes and 15,605 without the condition.

According to the results, allocation to an SGLT2 inhibitor reduced the risk of kidney disease progression by 37 per cent in both people with and without diabetes.

SGLT2 inhibitors also reduced the risk of active injury by 23 per cent and the risk of cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for heart failure by the same percentage.

The findings state: “SGLT2 inhibitors also reduced the risk of cardiovascular death but did not significantly reduce the risk of non-cardiovascular death.

“For all outcomes, results were broadly similar irrespective of trial mean baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate.”

It added: “Based on estimates of absolute effects, the absolute benefits of SGLT2 inhibition outweighed any serious hazards of ketoacidosis or amputation.”

Click here to view the full study.