SGLT2 inhibitors for the prevention of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Brendon L Neuen; Tamara Young; Hiddo J L Heerspink; Bruce Neal; Vlado Perkovic; Laurent Billot; Kenneth W Mahaffey; David M Charytan; David C Wheeler; Clare Arnott; Severine Bompoint; Adeera Levin; Meg J Jardine

doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30256-6

SGLT2 inhibitors for the prevention of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019 Nov;7(11):845-854. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30256-6. Epub 2019 Sep 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
³ The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London, London, UK.
⁴ Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
⁵ Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
⁶ Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
⁷ The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁸ Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁹ The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: mjardine@georgeinstitute.org.au.

PMID: 31495651
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30256-6

Abstract

Background: The effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on kidney failure, particularly the need for dialysis or transplantation or death due to kidney disease, is uncertain. Additionally, previous studies have been underpowered to robustly assess heterogeneity of effects on kidney outcomes by different levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria. We aimed to do a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on major kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and to determine the consistency of effect size across trials and different levels of eGFR and albuminuria.

Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, controlled, cardiovascular or kidney outcome trials of SGLT2 inhibitors that reported effects on major kidney outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes. We searched MEDLINE and Embase from database inception to June 14, 2019, to identify eligible trials. The primary outcome was a composite of dialysis, transplantation, or death due to kidney disease. We used random-effects models to obtain summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs and random-effects meta-regression to explore effect modification by subgroups of baseline eGFR, albuminuria, and use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019131774).

Findings: From 2085 records identified, four studies met our inclusion criteria, assessing three SGLT2 inhibitors: empagliflozin (EMPA-REG OUTCOME), canagliflozin (CANVAS Program and CREDENCE), and dapagliflozin (DECLARE-TIMI 58). From a total of 38 723 participants, 252 required dialysis or transplantation or died of kidney disease, 335 developed end-stage kidney disease, and 943 had acute kidney injury. SGLT2 inhibitors substantially reduced the risk of dialysis, transplantation, or death due to kidney disease (RR 0·67, 95% CI 0·52-0·86, p=0·0019), an effect consistent across studies (I²=0%, p_{heterogeneity}=0·53). SGLT2 inhibitors also reduced end-stage kidney disease (0·65, 0·53-0·81, p<0·0001), and acute kidney injury (0·75, 0·66-0·85, p<0·0001), with consistent benefits across studies. Although we identified some evidence that the proportional effect of SGLT2 inhibitors might attenuate with declining kidney function (p_trend=0·073), there was clear, separate evidence of benefit for all eGFR subgroups, including for participants with a baseline eGFR 30-45 mL/min per 1·73 m² (RR 0·70, 95% CI 0·54-0·91, p=0·0080). Renoprotection was also consistent across studies irrespective of baseline albuminuria (p_trend=0·66) and use of RAS blockade (p_{heterogeneity}=0·31).

Interpretation: SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of dialysis, transplantation, or death due to kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes and provided protection against acute kidney injury. These data provide substantive evidence supporting the use of SGLT2 inhibitors to prevent major kidney outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes.

Funding: None.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Diabetic Nephropathies / prevention & control*
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic / prevention & control*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors / therapeutic use*

Substances

Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors