Heterogeneous Kidney Patterns in Diabetic Patients Following SGLT2 Inhibitor Use

Although sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) slow the progression of kidney disease in diabetic patients, whether certain subsets of diabetic patients present heterogeneous phenotypes, such as a rapid deterioration of kidney function, following SGLT2i use remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify these heterogeneous responses and identify the factors contributing to them through a kidney function trajectory analysis.

This retrospective cohort study included 66,375 patients who visited the diabetes clinic for type 2 diabetes management, 5,209 of whom were prescribed SGLT2is. The median duration of SGLT2i prescription was 29.0 months (interquartile range, 16.3 to 49.0 months). Patterns of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories were analyzed using a latent class linear mixed model for 4,185 patients, with a median follow-up duration of 29.7 months (interquartile range, 17.1 to 34.1 months) and factors associated with these patterns were evaluated via multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Four distinct eGFR trajectory patterns were identified: 3,636 (86.9%) in class 1 (high baseline, stable eGFR), 440 (10.5%) in class 2 (low baseline, stable eGFR), 73 (1.7%) in class 3 (high baseline, rapidly declining eGFR), and 36 (0.9%) in class 4 (low baseline, rapidly declining eGFR). A rapid eGFR decline was more common in younger patients with substantial albuminuria, and hypoalbuminemia. Patients in the rapidly declining eGFR classes had higher risks of hospitalization and death than those in stable eGFR classes did.

The heterogeneity in eGFR trajectories following SGLT2i use suggests that not all patients benefit equally from this therapy. Identifying patients at risk of a rapid eGFR decline is critical for providing timely warnings and optimizing treatment strategies.