Dapagliflozin Cuts Renal Risks in Patients with CKD, Regardless of Diabetes Status

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin reduces the risk for kidney disease progression and death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) — whether or not they have type 2 diabetes — according to a multinational, industry-sponsored study. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Over 4000 adults with CKD (estimated GFR of 25–75 plus urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of 200-5000) were randomized to receive 10 mg of dapagliflozin or placebo daily. During a median follow-up of 2.4 years, the primary composite outcome — decline of at least 50% in estimated GFR, end-stage kidney disease, or renal or cardiovascular death — occurred significantly less often with dapagliflozin than with placebo (9.2% vs. 14.5%).

The risk reduction was similar in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine will take a closer look at this study — stay tuned for their coverage.