Background To summarize the four recent sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) trials: Dapagliflozin Effect on CardiovascuLAR Events (DECLARE-TIMI 58), CANagliflozin CardioVascular Assessment Study (CANVAS) Program, Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients–Removing Excess Glucose (EMPA–REG OUTCOME), Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation (CREDENCE), and explore the potential determinants for their cardiovascular, renal, and safety outcomes. Results The composite renal outcome event rates per 1000 patient-years for drug and placebo, as well as the corresponding relative risk reductions, were 3.7, 7.0, 47%; 5.5, 9.0, 40%; 6.3, 11.5, 46%; 43.2, 61.2, 30% for DECLARE-TIMI 58, CANVAS, EMPA–REG OUTCOME, and CREDENCE, respectively (event definitions varied across trials). The major adverse cardiovascular (CV) event rates per 1000 patient-years for drug and placebo, as well as the corresponding relative risk reductions, were 22.6, 24.2, 7%; 26.9, 31.5, 14%; 37.4, 43.9, 14%; 38.7, 48.7, 20% for DECLARE-TIMI 58, CANVAS, EMPA–REG OUTCOME, and CREDENCE, respectively. DECLARE-TIMI 58 had the fewest cardiorenal events and CREDENCE the most. These differences were presumably due to varying inclusion criteria resulting in DECLARE-TIMI 58 having the best baseline renal filtration function and CREDENCE the worst (mean estimated glomerular filtration rate 85.2, 76.5, 74, 56.2 mL/min/1.73 m 2 for DECLARE-TIMI 58, CANVAS, EMPA–REG OUTCOME, and CREDENCE, respectively). Additionally, CREDENCE had considerably higher rates of albuminuria (median urinary albumin-creatinine ratios (UACR) were 927, 12.3, and 13.1 mg/g for CREDENCE, CANVAS, and DECLARE-TIMI 58, respectively; EMPA–REG OUTCOME had 59.4% UACR < 30, 28.6% UACR > 30–300, 11.0% UACR > 300 mg/g). Conclusions Dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and canagliflozin have internally and externally consistent and biologically plausible class effects on cardiorenal outcomes. Baseline renal filtration function and degree of albuminuria are the most significant indicators of risk for both CV and renal events. Thus, these two factors also anticipate the greatest clinical benefit for SGLT2i.

Background: Previous meta-analyses demonstrated the benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) primarily on patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but with questionable efficacy on patients at risk of ASCVD. Additionally, evidence of beneficial cardiorenal outcomes in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 with the CV outcomes trials remains unclear. Canagliflozin, one of the SGLT2i, has recently been studied in a large randomized controlled trial in diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. Thus, there is a need to understand the combined outcomes on the population targeted for treatment with SGLT2i as a whole, regardless of ASCVD status. This meta-analysis will therefore assess the efficacy of SGLT2i in cardiovascular and renal outcomes in general, and in patients with eGFR under 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in particular. Methods: We searched PubMed and Cochrane databases for randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving SGLT2i. We examined composite cardiovascular outcomes of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarctions, nonfatal stroke, and heart failure hospitalizations. Renal composite outcomes and progression of albuminuria were also analyzed. Pooled relative risks (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effects model. Results: The search yielded a total of 252 articles. Four studies were ultimately included in the meta-analysis after exclusion of other irrelevant studies. The pooled RR (95% CI) for the composite cardiovascular outcome was 0.93 (0.87–0.99) with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 167 in the general study population and 0.89 (0.77–1.02) in patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The pooled RR for all-cause mortality was 0.9 (0.84–0.97) with NNT = 143. The pooled RR for death from cardiovascular causes alone was 0.89 (0.81–0.99) in the general population and 0.82 (0.62–1.07) in patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The pooled RR for heart failure hospitalizations was 0.71 (0.63–0.79) with NNT = 91. With respect to renal outcomes, the pooled RR for the composite renal outcome was 0.63 (0.56–0.71) with NNT = 67; this was true even in patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 0.67 (0.59–0.76). Lastly, the pooled RR for progression of albuminuria was 0.80 (0.76–0.84). Conclusion: SGLT2i are associated with significantly lower major adverse cardiovascular events, heart failure hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. The evidence is strongest in reducing heart failure hospitalizations. However, the evidence is weaker when it comes to the population subset with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. SGLT2i are also associated with significantly lower adverse renal events, with these effects apparent even in the population with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

tively (which did not require CVD). In conclusion, there is a need for large-scale studies of SGLT2i with matching inclusion/exclusion criteria and appropriate endpoints to ensure a truly direct comparison of the drugs.