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The anti-hypertensive effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
Luxcia Kugathasan1,2,3, Lisa Dubrofsky4,5,6, Andrew Advani7,8
1Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors offer modest blood pressure reduction, particularly in high-risk patients. These agents may serve as an effective add-on therapy for hypertension management in cardiovascular and kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, obesity, and diabetes.
- Many patients do not achieve target blood pressure (BP) levels despite standard antihypertensive treatments.
Approach:
- This review analyzes clinical BP-lowering data from major cardiovascular and kidney outcome trials involving sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
- It also includes data from smaller trials focused on BP reduction in high-risk individuals, with or without diabetes.
Key Points:
- SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrate generally modest BP-lowering effects, with potentially greater impact in specific patient groups.
- Potential mechanisms include natriuresis, hemodynamic shifts, a loop diuretic-like action, and vascular physiology alterations.
Conclusions:
- SGLT2 inhibitors can play an adjunctive role in BP management for hypertensive patients at high risk of cardiovascular or kidney disease.
Introduction:
Hypertension is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure, obesity, and diabetes. Despite the usual prescribed antihypertensive therapies, many patients fail to achieve the recommended blood pressure (BP) targets.
Areas Covered:
This review summarizes the clinical BP-lowering data presented in major CV and kidney outcome trials for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, as well as smaller dedicated BP trials in high-risk individuals with and without diabetes. We have also highlighted potential mechanisms that may contribute to the antihypertensive effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, including natriuresis and hemodynamic changes, a loop diuretic-like effect, and alterations in vascular physiology.
Expert Opinion:
The antihypertensive properties of SGLT2 inhibitors are generally modest but may be larger in certain patient populations. SGLT2 inhibitors may have an additional role as an adjunctive BP-lowering therapy in patients with hypertension at high risk of CV disease or kidney disease.
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