Temporal Changes in SGLT2 Inhibitor and GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes, 2012–2023: A US Cohort Study

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Individuals with both conditions have increased risk of poor cardiorenal outcomes and mortality. The rapidly evolving landscape for CKD-protective therapies in type 2 diabetes currently includes sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), both of which demonstrate cardiorenal outcome benefits. As part of the FOUNTAIN platform (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05526157; EUPAS ID: EUPAS48148), this study aimed to better understand changes in patient characteristics and treatment patterns corresponding with updates to clinical guideline recommendations and drug labeling and the emergence of new CKD-protective therapies such as finerenone in the US in 2021–2022.

An observational real-world data study assessed patient characteristics and drug utilization in separate SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA new-user cohorts of adults with CKD and type 2 diabetes in an earlier (1 January 2012–30 June 2021) and a later (9 July 2021–30 September 2023) period using Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics^® Data Mart Database (Optum^® CDM).

Compared with the earlier period new users, later period new users in both cohorts were older, had more severe CKD, used less intensive type 2 diabetes medication, and had better metabolic control; SGLT2i new users more frequently had no type 2 diabetes therapy before the index date and greater congestive heart failure prevalence; and GLP-1 RA new users had increased SGLT2i use and decreased insulin use.

These findings inform and contextualize future studies assessing cardiorenal outcomes for these and additional treatments, including finerenone, for individuals with CKD and type 2 diabetes.

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