SGLT2 inhibitors can prevent renal complications, research suggests

Taking SLGT2 inhibitors is more effective in slowing your decline in estimated glomerular filtration rates than taking DPP4 inhibitors, scientists have said.

Researchers from Japan have discovered that SLGT2 inhibitors are more likely to combat kidney problems compared to DPP4 inhibitors.

The scientists examined the renal outcomes of more than 6,000 adults aged 60 years and older with diabetes who were newly initiated on SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP4 inhibitors.

More than 5,000 of the participants were using DPP4 inhibitors and the remaining 1,271 individuals were SGLT2 inhibitor users.

According to the findings, the SGLT2 inhibitor group had a significantly slower decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) compared with the DPP4 inhibitor group (-0.97 vs -1.83 mL/min/1.73 m² per year).

The authors said: “Our large-scale real-world dataset analysis demonstrated that older individuals with diabetes who were newly prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors had more favourable kidney outcomes than did those who were newly prescribed DPP4 inhibitors.

“These findings suggest a potential advantage of SGLT2 inhibitors for kidney outcomes, even in older individuals with diabetes.”

The full study is available here.