Slowing the progression of diabetic and non-diabetic kidney disease: A summary of the current evidence base for sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors

Abstract

The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is approximately 9%. CKD is predicted to become the fifth largest global cause of death by 2040. Moreover, CKD causes disability, diminished quality of life and poses a high cost to healthcare systems. Delaying the development and progression of CKD is therefore of the utmost importance. Several kidney-specific outcome trials on sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2s) have recently provided a paradigm shift in the treatment of people with CKD, with or without diabetes, as these agents have been shown to reduce the progression of CKD on top of maximally tolerated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade. The relative benefit and safety of SGLT-2is seems to be consistent across ethnicities, ages and frailty categories; however, this needs to be tested in dedicated clinical trials. Guidelines make clear recommendations for the prescription of SGLT-2is and RAAS inhibitors as standard of care for people with CKD. Their combination with other newer antidiabetic agents may provide further benefits by targeting different components of CKD mechanisms. Dedicated randomized controlled trials are needed to test whether combination with other agents could extend the use of SGLT2is and identify people in whom a combination of drugs may be most effective. Increased efforts to implement the guidelines on treatment with SGLT-2is for people with CKD are needed, particularly in those at the highest risk of adverse outcomes and without type 2 diabetes. Moreover, strategies to target the equitable use of SGLT-2is are needed.