Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of GLP-1R Agonist and SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapy in the General Population: A Mendelian...

SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors and GLP-1R (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonists reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and kidney events in individuals with various cardiometabolic conditions. The long-term efficacy and safety of these therapies, especially in low- and moderate-risk populations, remain uncertain.

We conducted a biobank-scale analysis using genetic instruments derived from naturally occurring genetic variations in the genes encoding the targets of SGLT2 inhibitors (SLC5A2) and GLP-1R agonists (GLP1R) that are associated with glycated hemoglobin levels. This Mendelian randomization study utilized data from the All of Us Research Program, which includes whole genome sequencing and electronic health records of 633 547 participants.

Higher SGLT2 inhibitor genetic instrument scores were associated with a lower risk of heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]) and chronic kidney disease (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]). Higher GLP-1R agonist genetic instrument scores were linked to reduced risks of heart failure (OR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]), chronic kidney disease (OR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.95-0.98]), and coronary artery disease (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]). We did not detect associations between the GLP-1R agonist instrument and multiple endocrine neoplasia or medullary thyroid carcinoma. PheWAS (Phenome-Wide Association Study) identified associations between the SGLT2 inhibitor and GLP-1R agonist genetic instruments and a lower risk of diabetes, but no other phenotypes.

This study demonstrates the utility of biobank-scale health data for pharmacology research and suggests that, if feasible to implement in routine practice, long-term, primary prevention with an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1R agonist would safely lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and kidney events in low- to moderate-risk adults.