Association between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and lower extremity amputation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

New Perspectives in Management of Cardiovascular Risk Among People With Diabetes

Following the publication of results from multiple landmark cardiovascular outcome trials of antihyperglycemic medications over the past 8 years, there has been a major shift in the focus of care for people with type 2 diabetes, from control of hyperglycemia to managing cardiovascular risk. Multiple international cardiology and diabetes society guidelines and recommendations now endorse sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like protein-1 receptor agonists as first-line therapies to mitigate cardiovascular risk. The most recent publication is the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guideline on the management of cardiovascular disease in those with type 2 diabetes that, for the first time, recommends use of both classes of medications for the mitigation of cardiovascular risk for those with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Here, we review the evidence behind contemporary society guidelines and recommendations for the management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, chronic symptomatic, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and acute limb ischemia).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from October 2020 to June 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that was published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2023 during the peer review process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from the "2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with peripheral artery disease have been developed.

2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, chronic symptomatic, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and acute limb ischemia).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from October 2020 to June 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that was published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2023 during the peer review process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from the "2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with peripheral artery disease have been developed.

Key results from observational studies and real-world evidence of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor effectiveness and safety in reducing cardio-renal risk

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, originally designed to manage blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), have emerged as a crucial class of drugs for managing cardio-renal diseases. These drugs work by targeting the SGLT2 protein in the kidneys, promoting the excretion of glucose and influencing metabolic pathways beyond glucose control. The relationship between cardio-renal diseases and SGLT2 inhibitors has been explored through landmark trials and real-world evidence (RWE) studies, demonstrating significant reductions in cardio-renal complications. This review discusses the importance of RWE studies alongside randomized controlled trials in understanding the real-world effectiveness and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of RWE compared to RCTs, highlighting their complementary roles in providing comprehensive insights into treatment outcomes. By examining a range of RWE studies, the review underscores the cardio-renal benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors across various patient populations. Safety assessments indicate that SGLT2 inhibitors are generally well tolerated, with severe adverse events being rare. Common issues, such as genital mycotic infections and urinary tract infections, are acknowledged, alongside less frequent but significant adverse events including diabetic ketoacidosis, lower-limb amputations, and bone fractures. In summary, SGLT2 inhibitors show promising cardio-renal protective effects in real-world scenarios across diverse populations in T2D, indicating their potential as early intervention measures. Continued research is essential for gaining a thorough understanding of their long-term effects and safety profiles.

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors Reduce the Risk of Hospitalization for Heart Failure and Amputation Rate Compared With Incretin-Based Therapy in Patients With Diabetic Foot Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) outcomes associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapies remain unclear in patients with type 2 diabetes and newly diagnosed diabetic foot complications (DFCs). This study examined the impact of SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA use on the rates of MACEs and amputations in patients with type 2 diabetes and without cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (2004-2017) were analyzed, focusing on patients with type 2 diabetes without previous MACE and newly diagnosed DFCs. The primary outcome was the first MACE occurrence, and the secondary outcomes included MACE components, all-cause mortality, and lower extremity amputation (LEA) rates.

RESULTS

SGLT2i users showed a significant decrease in the MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46-0.88) and hospitalization for heart failure (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35-0.83) rates compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor users. The amputation rates were also lower in SGLT2i users without LEA at the first DFC diagnosis (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.10-0.75) and did not increase in those with a history of peripheral artery disease or LEA. No significant differences were observed between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor and GLP-1 RA users in terms of the primary or secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In patients with type 2 diabetes initially diagnosed with DFC, SGLT2i are effective in significantly reducing the hospitalization for heart failure and MACE rates. SGLT2i lower the amputation rates, especially in patients who have not previously had a LEA, than the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor therapy.

Bexagliflozin as an Adjunct Therapy to Diet and Exercise to Improve Glycaemic Control in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, over 10.5% of the adult population has been diagnosed with T2D, and almost 12% of total health expenditure is spent exclusively on T2D management globally. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are a relatively new class of oral antidiabetic agents that act by inhibiting renal sodium and glucose reabsorption. Except for their glucose-l owering effects, they have been associated with a more significant weight loss and blood pressure reduction and a lower risk of hypoglycaemia than other commonly prescribed antidiabetic drugs. On 20 January 2023, bexagliflozin became the fifth orally administered sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of T2D as an adjunct therapy to diet and exercise in the USA after dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin. This review aims to discuss the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of bexagliflozin, which provides an important alternative treatment option for patients with T2D.

Drug Safety Evaluation of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Diabetic Comorbid Patients by Review of Systemic Extraglycemic Effects

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of this drug in diabetic patients with comorbidities of all systems.

Method

In this review, the beneficial effects of this drug and its mechanism on the disorders of every system of humans in relation to diabetes have been studied, and finally, its adverse effects have also been discussed. The search for relevant information is carried out in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases by using the following terms: diabetes mellitus type 2, SGLT, SGLT2 inhibitors, (SGLT2 inhibitors) AND (Pleiotropic effects). All English-published articles from 2016 to 2023 have been used in this study. It should be noted that a small number of articles published before 2016 have been used in the introduction and general informations.

Results

Its beneficial effects on improving cardiovascular disease risk factors and reducing adverse events caused by cardiovascular and renal diseases have proven in most large clinical studies that these effects are almost certain. It also has beneficial effects on other human systems such as the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, the circulatory system, and the nervous system; more of them are at the level of clinical and pre-clinical trials but have not been proven in large clinical trials or meta-analyses.

Conclusion

With the exception of a few adverse effects, this drug is considered a good choice and safe for all diabetic patients with comorbidities of all systems.

Factors associated with diabetic foot ulcers and lower limb amputations in type 1 and type 2 diabetes supported by real-world data from the German/Austrian DPV registry

AIMS

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a leading cause of lower limb amputations in people with diabetes. This study was aimed to retrospectively analyze factors affecting DFU using real-world data from a large, prospective central-European diabetes registry (DPV [Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation]).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We matched adults with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) and DFU to controls without DFU by diabetes type, age, sex, diabetes duration, and treatment year to compare possible risk factors. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios for amputation among those with DFU.

RESULTS

In our cohort (N = 63 464), male sex, taller height, and diabetes complications such as neuropathy, peripheral artery disease, nephropathy, and retinopathy were associated with DFU (all p < .001). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was related to DFU only in T1D (mean with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.8 [6.9-9.0] % vs 7.5 [6.8-8.5] %, p < .001). High triglycerides and worse low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio were also associated with DFU in T1D, whereas smoking (14.7% vs 13.1%) and alcohol abuse (6.4% vs 3.8%, both p < .001) were associated with DFU in T2D. Male sex, higher Wagner grades, and high HbA1c in both diabetes types and insulin use in T2D were associated with increased hazard ratios for amputations.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, body height, and diabetes complications were associated DFU risk in adults with T1D and T2D. Improvement in glycemic control and lipid levels in T1D and reduction of smoking and drinking in T2D may be appropriate interventions to reduce the risk for DFU or amputations.

SGLT2 inhibitor improves the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease and prevents in-stent restenosis

Coronary heart disease is a narrowing or obstruction of the vascular cavity caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, which leads to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. At present, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an effective treatment for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. Restenosis is the main limiting factor of the long-term success of PCI, and it is also a difficult problem in the field of intervention. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor is a new oral glucose-lowering agent used in the treatment of diabetes in recent years. Recent studies have shown that SGLT2 inhibitors can effectively improve the prognosis of patients after PCI and reduce the occurrence of restenosis. This review provides an overview of the clinical studies and mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors in the prevention of restenosis, providing a new option for improving the clinical prognosis of patients after PCI.

SGLT2 Inhibitor Use and Risk of Clinical Events in Patients With Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Certain antineoplastic therapies are associated with an increased risk of cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF). Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve outcomes in patients with HF.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) or HF.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of deidentified, aggregate patient data from the TriNetX research network. Patients aged ≥18 years with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and exposure to potentially cardiotoxic antineoplastic therapies, with a subsequent diagnosis of cardiomyopathy or HF between January 1, 2013, and April 30, 2020, were identified. Patients with ischemic heart disease were excluded. Patients receiving guideline-directed medical therapy were divided into 2 groups based on SGLT2 inhibitor use. After propensity score matching, odds ratios (ORs) and Cox proportional HRs were used to compare outcomes over a 2-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 1,280 patients with CTRCD/HF (n = 640 per group; mean age: 67.6 years; 41.6% female; 68% White). Patients on SGLT2 inhibitors in addition to conventional guideline-directed medical therapy had a lower risk of acute HF exacerbation (OR: 0.483 [95% CI: 0.36-0.65]; P < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (OR: 0.296 [95% CI: 0.22-0.40]; P = 0.001). All-cause hospitalizations or emergency department visits (OR: 0.479; 95% CI: 0.383-0.599; P < 0.001), atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR: 0.397 [95% CI: 0.213-0.737]; P = 0.003), acute kidney injury (OR: 0.486 [95% CI: 0.382-0.619]; P < 0.001), and need for renal replacement therapy (OR: 0.398 [95% CI: 0.189-0.839]; P = 0.012) were also less frequent in patients on SGLT2 inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT2 inhibitor use is associated with improved outcomes in patients with CTRCD/HF.

Comparison of GLP-1 receptor agonists and other Glucose-Lowering agents on cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and Obesity: A Spanish Real-World Population-Based study

AIMS

Assess the impact of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) compared to other glucose-lowering agents on cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity in a Spanish metropolitan area.

METHODS

A retrospective population-based type 2 diabetes cohort was identified from the Valencia Clinic-Malvarrosa Department electronic databases (2014-2019). Study groups included GLP-1RA, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), Insulin, and Miscellany (other glucose-lowering agents). 1:1:1:1 propensity score matching was conducted. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (4-point MACE) comprising myocardial infarction, stroke, all-cause mortality, and heart failure. Secondary outcomes included individual 4-point MACE components. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression analyses against the Miscellany group.

RESULTS

From 26,944 subjects, 1,848 adults were selected per group. GLP-1RA did not show a significant reduction in 4-point MACE risk (HR 1.05 [95%CI 0.82-1.34]). SGLT2i significantly reduced the risk of heart failure (HR 0.16 [95%CI 0.05-0.54]) and atrial fibrillation (HR 0.58, [95%CI 0.35-0.95]). The Insulin group exhibited a higher risk for 4-point MACE and most individual outcomes compared to GLP-1RA and SGLT2i.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings do not provide evidence of a reduced cardiovascular risk, as assessed by 4-point MACE, with GLP-1RA. In contrast, SGLT2i demonstrated protective effects against heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Post-initiation predictors of discontinuation of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors: A comparative cohort study from the United Kingdom

AIMS

To assess post-initiation predictors of discontinuation of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors compared to dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in the United Kingdom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a comparative population-based retrospective cohort study using primary care data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with linked data to hospital and death records. We included new metformin users who initiated either SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors between January 2013 and October 2019. The main outcome was treatment discontinuation, defined as the first 90-day gap after the estimated treatment end date. We used a series of extended Cox models to assess which time-dependent predictors were associated with treatment discontinuation. To test if the hazard ratio of discontinuation for each predictor was statistically different between SGLT2 and DPP-4 inhibitors, an exposure-predictor interaction term was added to each model.

RESULTS

There were 2550 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 8195 new users of DPP-4 inhibitors. Approximately 69% of SGLT2 inhibitor and 74% of DPP-4 inhibitor users had discontinued treatment by the end of follow-up. Occurrence of fractures after treatment initiation was a significant predictor of discontinuation of SGLT2 inhibitors (hazard ratio [HR] 4.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12-8.06) but not DPP-4 inhibitors (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.79-1.11). The rate of treatment discontinuation was significantly higher for those with low estimated glomerular filtration rate and minimal contact with the healthcare system. Efficacy endpoints, such as heart failure and glycated haemoglobin level, were not associated with treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reflect some discrepancy between the available evidence and prescribing behaviour for SGLT2 inhibitors.

Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on kidney outcomes in type 2 diabetes: A tertiary center experience

BACKGROUND

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication of chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). Several studies have demonstrated the positive impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on kidney outcomes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, on kidney outcomes in Saudi patients with type 2 DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study included all Saudi patients with type 2 DM who visited our center from August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022, and had been on dapagliflozin for at least 3 months. Data was abstracted through chart review for all patients included in the study. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the results before and after treatment for continuous variables and the McNemar test was used to compare the results for categorical data.

RESULTS

Study included 184 Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes with a mean age of 61.32 years (SD=9.37). Dapagliflozin 10 mg/day significantly reduced hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) from a mean (SD) of 9.00 to 8.40 (P < 0.001). Among a subgroup of patients with significant proteinuria (n = 83), dapagliflozin significantly reduced ACR from a median of 93.1 to 64.9 mg/g (P = 0.001). Following treatment, the estimated glomerular filtration rate improved from a mean of 69.83 to 71.68 mL/min and the mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell from 90.03 to 89.06 mmHg, both were not statistically significant. Despite a statistically insignificant increase in the episodes of urinary tract infections (UTIs), the hospitalization rate declined. No episodes of amputations or ketoacidosis occurred during the study period.

CONCLUSION

SGLT2 inhibitors had beneficial effects among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes by improving diabetic control and lowering proteinuria. Dapagliflozin did not result in significant harm, including UTIs, amputations, and ketoacidosis.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in kidney transplant recipients

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are novel oral hypoglycemic agents garnering much attention for their substantial benefits. These recent data have positioned SGLT2i at the forefront of diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure management. SGLT2i use post-kidney transplant is an emerging area of research. Highlights from this mini review include the following: Empagliflozin is the most prescribed SGLT2i in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), median time from transplant to initiation was 3 years (range: 0.88-9.6 years). Median baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 66.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range: 50.4-75.8). Median glycohemoglobin (HgbA1c) at initiation was 7.7% (range: 6.9-9.3). SGLT2i were demonstrated to be effective short-term impacting HgbA1c, eGFR, hemoglobin/hematocrit, serum uric acid, and serum magnesium levels. They are shown to be safe in KTRs with low rates of infections, hypoglycemia, euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, and stable tacrolimus levels. More data is needed to demonstrate long-term outcomes. SGLT2i appear to be safe, effective medications for select KTRs. Our present literature, though limited, is founded on precedent robust research in CKD patients with diabetes. Concurrent research/utilization of SGLT2i is vital to not only identify long-term patient, graft and cardiovascular outcomes of these agents, but also to augment management in KTRs.

Adoption of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors among prescribers caring for nursing home residents

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2I) use has increased among community-dwelling populations, but little is known about how clinicians have prescribed them for US nursing home (NH) residents. We described the adoption of SGLT2Is by prescribers caring for long-stay NH residents by clinician specialty and over time, compared with sulfonylureas, an older diabetes medication class.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of prescribers of SGLT2Is and sulfonylureas for all long-stay US NH residents aged 65 years or older (2017-2019). Using 100% of Medicare Part D claims linked to prescriber characteristics data, we identified all dispensings of SGLT2Is and sulfonylureas for long-stay NH residents and their associated prescribers. We described the distribution of prescriber specialties for each drug class over time as well as the number of NH residents prescribed SGLT2s versus sulfonylureas. We estimated the proportions of prescribers who prescribed both drug classes versus only sulfonylureas or only SGLT2Is.

RESULTS

We identified 36,427 unique prescribers (SGLT2I: N = 5811; sulfonylureas: N = 35,443) for 117,667 NH residents between 2017 and 2019. For both classes, family medicine and internal medicine physicians accounted for most prescriptions (75%-81%). Most clinicians (87%) prescribed only sulfonylureas, 2% prescribed SGLT2Is only, and 11% prescribed both. Geriatricians were least likely to prescribe only SGLT2Is. We observed an increase in the number of residents with SGLT2I use from n = 2344 in 2017 to n = 5748 in 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Among NH residents, most clinicians have not incorporated SGLT2Is into their prescribing for diabetes, but the extent of use is increasing. Family medicine and internal medicine physicians prescribed the majority of diabetes medications for NH residents, and geriatricians were the least likely to prescribe only SGLT2Is. Future research should explore provider concerns regarding SGLT2I prescribing, particularly adverse events.

Detection, management, and prevention of diabetes-related foot disease in the Australian context

Diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) is a widely feared complication among people who live with diabetes. In Australia and globally, rates of disability, cardio-vascular disease, lower extremity amputation, and mortality are significantly increased in patients with DFD. In order to understand and prevent these outcomes, we analyse the common pathogenetic processes of neuropathy, arterial disease, and infection. The review then summarises important management considerations through the interdisciplinary lens. Using Australian and international guidelines, we offer a stepwise, evidence-based practical approach to the care of patients with DFD.

The use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus sulfonylureas and the risk of lower limb amputations: a nation-wide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have investigated the potential association of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) with an increased risk of lower limb amputations (LLAs), but have produced conflicting results. Particularly studies comparing SGLT2-Is to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) seem to find a higher LLA risk with SGLT2-I use. This raises the question whether the results are driven by a protective GLP1-RA-effect rather than a harmful SGLT2-I-effect. GLP1-RAs could promote wound healing and therefore reduce the risk of LLAs, but the associations between both drug classes and LLA remain uncertain. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the risk of LLA and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) with SGLT2-I use and GLP1-RA use versus sulfonylurea use.

METHODS

A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using data from the Danish National Health Service (2013-2018). The study population (N = 74,475) consisted of type 2 diabetes patients aged 18 + who received a first ever prescription of an SGLT2-I, GLP1-RA or sulfonylurea. The date of the first prescription defined the start of follow-up. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards models estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) of LLA and DFU with current SGLT2-I use and GLP1-RA use versus current SU use. The models were adjusted for age, sex, socio-economic variables, comorbidities and concomitant drug use.

RESULTS

Current SGLT2-I use was not associated with a higher risk of LLA versus sulfonylureas {adjusted HR 1.10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-1.70]}. Current GLP1-RA use, on the other hand, was associated with a lower risk of LLA [adjusted HR 0.57 (95%CI 0.39-0.84)] compared to sulfonylureas. The risk of DFU was similar to that with sulfonylureas with both exposures of interest.

CONCLUSION

SGLT2-I use was not associated with a higher risk of LLA, but GLP1-RAs with a lower risk of LLA. Previous studies reporting a higher risk of LLA with SGLT2-I use compared to GLP1-RA use might have been looking at a protective GLP1-RA effect, rather than a harmful SGLT2-I effect.

Association of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors with Osteomyelitis and Other Lower Limb Safety Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

Our aim was to evaluate osteomyelitis and other major lower limb safety outcomes (i.e., peripheral artery disease or PAD, ulcers, atraumatic fractures, amputations, symmetric polyneuropathy, and infections) in patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-is). We thus performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SGLT2-is at approved doses for T2DM with a placebo or standard of care. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched through August 2022. Separate intention-to-treat analyses were implemented for each molecule to calculate Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios (RR_MH) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) through a random-effects model. We processed data from 42 RCTs for a total of 29,491 and 23,052 patients, respectively assigned to SGLT2-i and comparator groups. SGLT2-is showed a pooled neutral effect on osteomyelitis, PAD, fractures, and symmetric polyneuropathy, whereas slightly deleterious sway on ulcers (RR_MH 1.39 [1.01-1.91]), amputations (RR_MH 1.27 [1.04-1.55]), and infections (RR_MH 1.20 [1.02-1.40]). In conclusion, SGLT2-is appear to not significantly interfere with the onset of osteomyelitis, PAD, lower limb fractures, or symmetric polyneuropathy, even though the number of these events proved consistently higher in the investigational groups; otherwise, local ulcers, amputations, and overall infections may be favoured by their employment. This study is registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF).

Safety outcomes of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-Is) have emerged as standard therapy for heart failure. We aim to assess the safety of SGLT2-Is in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Areas covered

An electronic database search was conducted for randomized control trials comparing SGLT2-Is to placebo in patients with a high risk of cardiac disease or heart failure. Data were pooled for outcomes using random-effect models. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to compare eight safety outcomes between the two groups. The analysis included ten studies with 71 553 participants, among whom 39 053 received SGLT2-Is; 28 809 were male and 15 655 were female (mean age, 65.2 years). The mean follow-up period was 2.3 years with the range being 0.8-4.2 years. The SGLT2-Is group had a significant reduction in AKI (OR = 0.8;95% CI 0.74-0.90) and serious adverse effects (OR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.83-0.96) as compared to placebo. No difference was found in fracture (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 0.91-1.24), amputation (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.00-1.29), hypoglycemia (OR 0.98;95% CI 0.83-1.15), and UTI (OR = 1.1; 95% CI 1.00-1.22). In contrast, DKA (OR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.65-3.60) and volume depletion (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.07-1.41) were higher in SGLT2-Is group.

Expert opinion/commentary

The benefits of SLGT2-Is outweigh the risk of adverse events. They may reduce the risk of AKI but are associated with an increased risk of DKA and volume depletion. Further studies are warranted to monitor a wider range of safety outcomes of SGLT2-Is.

Management of Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease

Heart failure (HF), diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently coexist, with one comorbidity worsening the prognosis of another. β-blockers, angiotensin-receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors all have been shown to reduce mortality in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction. However, their uptake in real-world clinical practice remains low, especially among patients who have multiple other comorbidities such as CKD and diabetes. The management of HF in patients with diabetes and CKD can be especially challenging because these patients typically are older, frail, and have multiple other comorbidities, and guideline-directed medical therapy used in HF potentially can affect renal function acutely and chronically. In this article, we discuss the available evidence for each of the foundational HF therapies in patients with diabetes and CKD, emphasizing the current challenges and outlining future directions to optimize the management of HF among these high-risk patients.

Upstream comprehensive management of individuals with diabetes with multimorbidity and frailty to act against amputation

This manuscript constitutes a commentary on: "Retrospective cohort study of long-term outcomes and prognostic factors for survival after lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes" by Vuorlaakso et al. (2023). We aim to contribute to the reflection of their findings to support the comprehensive management of vulnerable individuals with multimorbidity and/frailty for limb preservation. There is an urgent need to understand the effects of frailty on overall survival after amputation, survival without major amputation, and the effect modification with multimorbidity.

Active-comparator restricted disproportionality analysis for pharmacovigilance signal detection studies of chronic disease medications: An example using sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors

AIMS

Disproportionality analysis is a common pharmacovigilance tool to detect safety signals of type 2 diabetes medications from spontaneous drug reporting databases. The aim was to demonstrate the impact of using active-comparator restricted disproportionality analysis (ACR-DA), wherein the reference group is restricted to reports with a clinically appropriate active comparator.

METHODS

Using reports from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, we assessed if sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are associated with higher reporting of 5 potential adverse events: acute kidney injury, genitourinary tract infections, diabetic ketoacidosis, fractures, and amputations. For each adverse event, we calculated the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) and adjusted reporting odds ratio (aROR [95% confidence interval, CI]) using 3 types of reference groups: no SGLT2 inhibitor (background risk reference), other diabetes drugs (therapeutic class reference), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (active comparator reference).

RESULTS

Based on ACR-DA, we did not detect a safety signal for acute kidney injury (PRR 0.92 [0.81-1.04]; aROR 0.78 [95% CI 0.72-0.85]) or fractures (PRR 0.44[95% CI 0.17-1.15]; aROR 0.74 [95% CI 0.61-0.91]) associated with SGLT2 inhibitors compared to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors. However, we detected safety signals for genitourinary tract infections (PRR 2.75[2.02-3.76]; aROR 2.54[2.26-2.86], diabetic ketoacidosis (PRR 63.85[39.37-103.53; aROR 91.49[70.66-118.48]), and amputations (PRR 52.60 [19.66-140.75]; aROR 22.64 [15.32-33.42].

CONCLUSION

The use of the proposed ACR-DA to detect safety signals of type 2 diabetes medications may reduce false positive safety signals through careful selection of the comparator which is expected to reduce channelling bias.

Adverse cardiovascular, limb, and renal outcomes in patients with diabetes after peripheral artery disease revascularization treated with sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors

AIMS

The effectiveness and limb safety of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) for patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D) who have received peripheral artery disease (PAD) revascularization are unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, we identified a total of 2,455 and 8,695 patients with T2D who had undergone PAD revascularization and received first prescriptions for SGLT2i and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), respectively, between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019. We used 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to balance covariates between the two study groups. Patients were followed up from the drug index date until the occurrence of specified outcomes, death, discontinuation of the index drug, or the end of the study period, whichever occurred first. After PSM, we observed that compared with DPP4i, SGLT2i were associated with comparable risks of ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure hospitalization but were associated with a lower risk of cardiac death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-0.90]; p = 0.0126). Regarding major limb outcomes, SGLT2i were associated with comparable risks of repeated revascularization and lower limb amputation compared with DPP4i. SGLT2i were associated with a lower risk of composite renal outcomes (HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.27-0.59; p < 0.0001) compared with DPP4i.

CONCLUSION

In a real-world study of patients with T2D who had undergone PAD revascularization, SGLT2i were associated with lower risks of cardiac death and composite renal outcomes but not associated with increased risks of adverse limb events compared with DPP4i.

Major adverse cardiovascular and limb events in people with diabetes treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists vs SGLT2 inhibitors

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

This study aimed to assess the real-world outcomes of people with diabetes mellitus treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) compared with those treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) in terms of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Peripheral artery disease is a common cause of morbidity in people with diabetes. Previous cardiovascular outcome trials have demonstrated the benefits of GLP1RAs and SGLT2is for reducing various cardiovascular events, but the safety and efficacy of these drugs on limb outcomes remain subject to debate and ambiguity.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in which data were collected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. In total, 379,256 individuals with diabetes receiving either GLP1RA or SGLT2i with treatment initiated between 1 May 2016 and 31 December 2019 were identified. The primary outcome was major adverse limb events (MALE), defined as the composite of newly diagnosed critical limb ischaemia, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or peripheral bypass for peripheral artery disease, and non-traumatic amputation. The secondary outcome was major adverse cardiac events, which was a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal ischaemic stroke. Other examined outcomes included death from any cause and hospitalisation for heart failure. Propensity score matching was performed at a 1:4 ratio between the GLP1RA and SGLT2i groups to mitigate possible selection bias.

RESULTS

A total of 287,091 patients were eligible for analysis, with 81,152 patients treated with SGLT2i and 20,288 patients treated with GLP1RA after matching. The incidence of MALE was significantly lower in the GLP1RA group than in the SGLT2i group (3.6 vs 4.5 events per 1000 person-years; subdistribution HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.67, 0.96), primarily due to a lower incidence of critical limb ischaemia. The reduced risks of MALE associated with GLP1RA use were particularly noticeable in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (subdistribution HR 0.66 vs 1.11; p for interaction 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In people with diabetes, GLP1RA use was associated with significantly reduced risks of MALE compared with SGLT2i within the first 2 years after initiation, especially among people with diabetic neuropathy.

The Role of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibition in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a novel class of antidiabetic mediations found to also reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and hospitalization for heart failure. Positive results from the EMPEROR-Preserved (empagliflozin) and PRESERVED-HF (dapagliflozin) studies led to recommendations for SGLT2 inhibitors in HFpEF within major international heart failure guidelines. However, studies of ipragliflozin and luseogliflozin, agents approved outside the United States (U.S.), reported different outcomes relative to pivotal trials and failed to realize benefits in the HFpEF population. Varying definitions of HFpEF and outcomes studied complicate the interpretation of study results. SGLT2 inhibitors may cause common adverse events (genital mycotic infections, volume depletion) in addition to rare but severe sequela, including euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, Fournier's gangrene, and lower limb amputation. While evidence of CV benefits grows, SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing has lagged, particularly among patients without diabetes. In the U.S., high cost and administrative hurdles may contribute to decreased patient and clinician uptake of this drug class. Future trial results and clinical experience with SGLT2 inhibitors may lead to expanded use and greater uptake among patients with heart failure.

Clinical Evidence and Proposed Mechanisms for Cardiovascular and Kidney Benefits from Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors

The number of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications worldwide is increasing at an alarming rate. Fortunately, our understanding of the benefits of glucose-lowering agents from the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist classes on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes is advancing; this means we now have new options to mitigate the risks of these complications in patients with T2D. The SGLT2 inhibitors have consistently demonstrated benefits on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) events in dedicated outcome trials. Large guidelines groups now recommend SGLT2 inhibitors as a standard of care in patients with T2D and comorbid ASCVD, CKD and/ or HF. Evolving evidence additionally indicates kidney and HF benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors in populations without diabetes. These agents likely provide heart and kidney benefits through multiple mechanisms, as their impact on heart and kidney outcomes cannot be fully explained by their direct metabolic effects. On-going work to elucidate the beneficial mechanisms at play with SGLT2 inhibitors will help further optimize these life-saving therapies in patients with and without T2D.

Intramuscular injection of sotagliflozin promotes neovascularization in diabetic mice through enhancing skeletal muscle cells paracrine function

Diabetes mellitus is associated with series of macrovascular and microvascular pathological changes that cause a wide range of complications. Diabetic patients are highly susceptible to hindlimb ischemia (HLI), which remains incurable. Evidence shows that skeletal muscle cells secrete a number of angiogenic factors to promote neovascularization and restore blood perfusion, this paracrine function is crucial for therapeutic angiogenesis in diabetic HLI. In this study we investigated whether sotagliflozin, an anti-hyperglycemia SGLT2 inhibitor, exerted therapeutic angiogenesis effects in diabetic HLI in vitro and in vivo. In C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, we showed that high glucose (HG, 25 mM) under hypoxia markedly inhibited cell viability, proliferation and migration potentials, which were dose-dependently reversed by pretreatment with sotagliflozin (5-20 μM). Sotagliflozin pretreatment enhanced expression levels of angiogenic factors HIF-1α, VEGF-A and PDGF-BB in HG-treated C2C12 cells under hypoxia as well as secreted amounts of VEGF-A and PDGF-BB in the medium; pretreatment with the HIF-1α inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2, 10 μM) or HIF-1α knockdown abrogated sotagliflozin-induced increases in VEGF-A and PDGF-BB expression, as well as sotagliflozin-stimulated cell proliferation and migration potentials. Furthermore, the conditioned media from sotagliflozin-treated C2C12 cells in HG medium enhanced the migration and proliferation capabilities of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, two types of cells necessary for forming functional blood vessels. In vivo study was conducted in diabetic mice subjected to excising the femoral artery of the left limb. After the surgery, sotagliflozin (10 mg/kg) was directly injected into gastrocnemius muscle of the left hindlimb once every 3 days for 3 weeks. We showed that intramuscular injection of sotagliflozin effectively promoted the formation of functional blood vessels, leading to significant recovery of blood perfusion in diabetic HLI mice. Together, our results highlight a new indication of SGLT2 inhibitor sotagliflozin as a potential therapeutic angiogenesis agent for diabetic HLI.

Real-world risk of lower-limb amputation associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors versus metformin: A propensity score-matched model analysis in Japan

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

We aimed to clarify the real-world risk of lower-limb amputation and identify factors related to increased risk in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes using sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective observational cohort study utilizing the Japanese Medical Data Vision, a diagnosis procedure combination database. We identified 107,296 patients with type 2 diabetes who were initiated on SGLT2is or metformin (control; n = 53,648 per group) using 1:1 propensity score matching from April 2014 to October 2019. The hazard ratio (HR) for the risk of lower-limb amputation was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for patients' baseline characteristics and use of concomitant medical agents.

RESULTS

Of the 107,296 patients, 66 (0.06%); that is, 41 (0.08%) in the SGLT2is group and 25 (0.05%) in the metformin group, underwent amputation, with no significant difference in the proportions between the groups. There was no significant difference in the risk of amputation between the SGLT2is and metformin groups (HR 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80-2.24). However, female sex (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.12-6.94) and use of strong statins (HR 2.68; 95% CI 1.18-8.20) were significantly associated with a higher risk of amputation in the SGLT2is group than in the metformin group.

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT2is might not be related to an increased risk of lower-limb amputation in patients with type 2 diabetes in real-world clinical practice. The possible increased risk of SGLT2is-associated amputation in female patients with type 2 diabetes and patients with type 2 diabetes requiring strong statins is notable.

Advances for the treatment of lower extremity arterial disease associated with diabetes mellitus

Lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a major vascular complication of diabetes. Vascular endothelial cells dysfunction can exacerbate local ischemia, leading to a significant increase in amputation, disability, and even mortality in patients with diabetes combined with LEAD. Therefore, it is of great clinical importance to explore proper and effective treatments. Conventional treatments of diabetic LEAD include lifestyle management, medication, open surgery, endovascular treatment, and amputation. As interdisciplinary research emerges, regenerative medicine strategies have provided new insights to treat chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). Therapeutic angiogenesis strategies, such as delivering growth factors, stem cells, drugs to ischemic tissues, have also been proposed to treat LEAD by fundamentally stimulating multidimensional vascular regeneration. Recent years have seen the rapid growth of tissue engineering technology; tissue-engineered biomaterials have been used to study the treatment of LEAD, such as encapsulation of growth factors and drugs in hydrogel to facilitate the restoration of blood perfusion in ischemic tissues of animals. The primary purpose of this review is to introduce treatments and novel biomaterials development in LEAD. Firstly, the pathogenesis of LEAD is briefly described. Secondly, conventional therapies and therapeutic angiogenesis strategies of LEAD are discussed. Finally, recent research advances and future perspectives on biomaterials in LEAD are proposed.

Beyond the Glycaemic Control of Dapagliflozin: Impact on Arterial Stiffness and Macroangiopathy

Dapagliflozin is a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and chronic kidney disease. In all indications, treatment can be initiated in adults with estimated glomerular filtration rate of at least 25 mL/min/1.73 m². As monotherapy or as an additive therapy, dapagliflozin has been shown to promote better glycaemic control, associated with a reduction in body weight and blood pressure in a wide range of patients. In addition, dapagliflozin has a positive impact on arterial stiffness, helps to control the lipid profile and contributes to a reduced risk of cardiovascular complications. This article reviews the current scientific evidence on the role of dapagliflozin in cardiovascular risk factors including arterial stiffness, cardiovascular disease and heart failure in patients with T2DM, with the aim of helping to translate this evidence into clinical practice. The underuse of SGLT2i in actual clinical practice is also discussed.

Therapeutic angiogenesis-based strategy for peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) poses a great challenge to society, with a growing prevalence in the upcoming years. Patients in the severe stages of PAD are prone to amputation and death, leading to poor quality of life and a great socioeconomic burden. Furthermore, PAD is one of the major complications of diabetic patients, who have higher risk to develop critical limb ischemia, the most severe manifestation of PAD, and thus have a poor prognosis. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop an effective therapeutic strategy to treat this disease. Therapeutic angiogenesis has raised concerns for more than two decades as a potential strategy for treating PAD, especially in patients without option for surgery-based therapies. Since the discovery of gene-based therapy for therapeutic angiogenesis, several approaches have been developed, including cell-, protein-, and small molecule drug-based therapeutic strategies, some of which have progressed into the clinical trial phase. Despite its promising potential, efforts are still needed to improve the efficacy of this strategy, reduce its cost, and promote its worldwide application. In this review, we highlight the current progress of therapeutic angiogenesis and the issues that need to be overcome prior to its clinical application.

Role of Dipeptidyl Dipeptidase 4 Inhibitors in the Management of Diabetic Foot

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus face difficulties in wound healing. It is important to explore therapeutic options for diabetic complications such as ulcers. This study evaluates the role of dipeptidyl dipeptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in the management of diabetic foot. Methods: Literature search was conducted in electronic databases (Google Scholar, Ovid, PubMed, Science Direct, and Springer) and studies were selected for inclusion if they reported the incidence rate of diabetic foot ulcer during DPP4i treatment or evaluated the effect of DPP4i on wound healing. Incidence rates of foot ulcer, amputation and peripheral vascular disease were pooled to achieve overall estimates. Meta-analyses of odds ratios were performed to evaluate the risk of foot ulcer, amputation, and peripheral vascular disease with DPP4i, and to examine the effect of DPP4i treatment on ulcer healing. Results: Ten studies (532354 DPP4i and 2092010 non-DPP4i treated diabetes patients) were included. Incidence rates of foot ulcer, amputation, and peripheral vascular disease were 3.80 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 7.39], 0.82 [95%CI: 0.60, 1.05], and 22.33 [95%CI: 9.14, 35.53] per 1000 person-years respectively in patients treated with DPP4i and 3.60 [95%CI: 1.77, 5.39], 0.76 [95%CI: 0.58, 0.94], and 20.9 [95%CI: 16.04, 25.81] per 1000 person-years respectively in patients treated with non-DPP4i drugs. Risk of ulcer or amputation with DPP4i was not consistent across studies. Odds of non-healing of ulcer were significantly lower with DPP4i in comparison with controls (odds ratio: 0.27 [95%CI: 0.10, 0.71]; p = 0.008). Conclusion: Incidence rates of diabetic foot and amputation are found to be similar with DPP4i and non-DPP4i drugs. DPP4i improved wound healing of diabetic foot in 3-month randomized trials.

Management of diabetic foot ulcers and the challenging points: An endocrine view

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most challenging complications of diabetes. Up to one-third of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) may suffer from DFUs during their life. DFU is one of the leading causes of morbidity in patients with DM. The treatment period is challenging, and the recurrence rate of DFUs is high. Hence, establishing prevention strategies is the most important point to be emphasized. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary in the prevention and treatment of DFUs. Patients at risk should be identified, and prevention measures should be taken based on the risk category. Once a DFU is formed, the appropriate classification and evidence-based treatment interventions should be executed. Glycemic control, diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease, local wound care, diagnosis, and treatment of infection should be addressed along with the proper evaluation and management of general health status.

Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Diabetes: A Comparison of Professional Society Guidelines

In this review, we compare major points given in the 2021 American Diabetes Association and the 2020 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology guidelines, in particular, the assessment and management of cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes with a focus on dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and pharmacotherapy in diabetes.

The Role of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Atherosclerosis: A Narrative Mini-Review

Objective: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-is) are antidiabetic drugs that improve glycemic control by limiting urinary glucose reuptake in the proximal tubule. SGLT2-is might suppress atherosclerotic processes and ameliorate the prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus diagnosed with or at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this mini review, we examine the role of SGLT2-is in the development and progression of atherosclerosis throughout its spectrum, from subclinical atherosclerosis to ASCVD.

Data Sources—PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for publications related to SGLT2-is and atherosclerosis. All types of articles were considered, including clinical trials, animal studies, in vitro observations, and reviews and meta-analyses. Data were examined according to their impact and clinical relevance.

Synopsis of Content—We first review the underlying mechanisms of SGLT2-is on the development and progression of atherosclerosis, including favorable effects on lipid metabolism, reduction of systemic inflammation, and improvement of endothelial function. We then discuss the putative impact of SGLT2-is on the formation, composition, and stability of atherosclerotic plaque. Furthermore, we evaluate the effects of SGLT2-is in subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by carotid intima media thickness and pulse wave velocity. Subsequently, we summarize the effects of SGLT2-is in ASCVD events, including ischemic stroke, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and peripheral artery disease, as well as major adverse cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Moreover, we examine factors that could modify the role of SGLT2-is in atherosclerosis, including sex, age, diabetes, glycemic control, ASCVD, and SGLT2-i compounds. Additionally, we propose future directions that can improve our understanding of SGLT2-is and atherosclerosis.

Initiation of SGLT2 Inhibitors and the Risk of Lower Extremity Minor and Major Amputation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Health Claims Data Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between long term risk of hospitalisation for heart failure (HHF) and lower extremity minor and major amputation (LEA) in patients initiating sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) suffering from type 2 diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Outcomes were compared with patients without PAD and evaluated separately for the time periods before and after the official warning of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in early 2017.

METHODS

This study used BARMER German health claims data including all patients suffering from type 2 diabetes initiating SGLT2i therapy between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 with follow up until the end of 2020. New users of glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) were used as active comparators. Inverse probability weighting with truncated stabilised weights was used to adjust for confounding, and five year risks of HHF and LEA were estimated using Cox regression. Periods before and after the EMA warning were analysed separately and stratified by presence of concomitant PAD.

RESULTS

In total, 44 284 (13.6% PAD) and 56 878 (16.3% PAD) patients initiated SGLT2i or GLP1-RA, respectively. Before the EMA warning, initiation of SGLT2i was associated with a lower risk of HHF in patients with PAD (hazard ratio, HR, 0.85, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.73 - 0.99) and a higher risk of LEA in patients without PAD (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.04 - 2.92). After the EMA warning, the efficacy and safety endpoints were no longer statistically different between groups.

CONCLUSION

The results from this large nationwide real world study highlight that PAD patients exhibit generally high amputation risks. This study refutes the idea that the presence of PAD explains the excess LEA risk associated with initiation of SGLT2i. The fact that differentials among study groups diminished after the EMA warning in early 2017 emphasises that regulatory surveillance measures worked in everyday clinical practice.

Principal predictors of major adverse limb events in diabetic peripheral artery disease: A narrative review

Background and aims

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus is causing a massive growth of peripheral artery disease incidences, a disabling complication of diabetic atherosclerosis, which leads often to the amputation of the affected limb. Critical limb ischemia is the terminal disease stage, which requires a prompt intervention to relieve pain and save limbs. However, patients undergoing revascularization often suffer from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and major adverse limb events with poor outcomes. Furthermore, the same procedure performed in apparently similar patients has various outcomes and lack of an outcome predictive support causes a high lower limb arterial revascularization rate with disastrous effects for patients. We collected the main risk factors of major adverse limb events in a more readable and immediate format of the topic, to propose an overview of parameters to manage effectively peripheral artery disease patients and to propose basics of a new predictive tool to prevent from disabling vascular complications of the disease.

Methods

Most recent and updated literature about the prevalence of major adverse limb events in peripheral artery disease was reviewed to identify possible main predictors.

Results

In this article, we summarized major risk factors of limb revascularization failure and disabling vascular complications collecting those parameters principally responsible for major adverse limb events, which provides physio-pathological explanation of their role in peripheral artery disease.

Conclusion

We evaluated and listed a panel of possible predictors of MALE (Major Adverse Limb Event) in order to contribute to the development of a predictive score, based on a summary of the main risk factors reported in scientific articles, which could improve the management of peripheral artery disease by preventing vascular accidents.

A registry-based randomised trial comparing an SGLT2 inhibitor and metformin as standard treatment of early stage type 2 diabetes (SMARTEST): Rationale, design and protocol

AIM

SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce cardiovascular and renal complications in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients at high cardiovascular risk. Metformin is currently widely used as initial monotherapy in T2D but lacks convincing data to show that it reduces risk of complications. We aim to compare the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin and metformin as first-line T2D medication with regard to development of complications in a registry-based randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

The SGLT2 inhibitor or metformin as standard treatment of early stage type 2 diabetes (SMARTEST) trial will enrol 4300 subjects at 30-40 study sites in Sweden who will be randomised 1:1 to either metformin or dapagliflozin. Participants must have T2D duration <4 years, no prior cardiovascular disease, and be either drug-naïve or on monotherapy for T2D.

RESULTS

The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause death, major adverse cardiovascular events and occurrence or progression of microvascular complications (retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic foot lesions). Secondary endpoints include individual components of the primary endpoint, start of insulin therapy, risk factor biomarkers, patient-reported outcome measures, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Outcomes will primarily be assessed using nationwide healthcare registries.

CONCLUSIONS

The SMARTEST trial will investigate whether dapagliflozin is superior to metformin in preventing complications in early stage T2D. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03982381, EudraCT 2019-001046-17).

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor (SGLT2i) as a Primary Preventative Agent in the Healthy Individual: A Need of a Future Randomised Clinical Trial?

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a relatively novel class of drug for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that inhibits glucose reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule to promote glycosuria and reduce blood glucose levels. SGLT2i has been clinically indicated for treating T2DM, with numerous recent publications focussing on both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and renal events in Type 2 diabetic patients. The most recent clinical trials showed that SGLT2i have moderately significant beneficial effects on atherosclerotic major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with histories of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In this review and analysis, SGLT2i have however demonstrated clinically significant benefits in reducing hospitalisation for heart failure and worsening of chronic kidney disease (CKD) irrespective of pre-existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or previous heart failure history. A meta-analysis suggests that all SGLT2 inhibitors demonstrated the therapeutic benefit on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, as shown in EMPAREG OUTCOME study with a significant decrease in myocardial infarction, without increased stroke risk. All the above clinical trial recruited type 2 diabetic patients. This article aims to postulate and review the possible primary prevention role of SGLT2i in healthy individuals by reviewing the current literature and provide a prospective overview. The emphasis will include primary prevention of Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Failure, CKD, Hypertension, Obesity and Dyslipidaemia in healthy individuals, whom are defined as healthy, low or intermediate risks patients.

Permission to prescribe: do cardiologists need permission to prescribe diabetes medications that afford cardiovascular benefit?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Antihyperglycemic therapies including sodium glucose contransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) have been demonstrated to confer significant cardiovascular benefit and reduce future events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, despite positive data from cardiovascular outcome trials, these therapies remain underutilized in a large proportion of patients who have clinical indications and meet coverage guidelines for their initiation. One of the causes of the observed gap between scientific evidence and clinical cardiology practice is therapeutic hesitancy (otherwise known as therapeutic inertia). The purpose of this review is to discuss the contributors to therapeutic hesitancy in the implementation of these evidence-based therapies and, more importantly, provide pragmatic solutions to address these barriers.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have demonstrated that clinicians may not initiate cardiovascular protective therapies due to a reluctance to overstep perceived interdisciplinary boundaries, concerns about causing harm due to medication side effects, and a sense of unfamiliarity with the optimal choice of therapy amidst a rapidly evolving landscape of T2DM therapies.

SUMMARY

Herein, we describe a multifaceted approach aimed at creating a 'permission to prescribe' culture, developing integrated multidisciplinary models of care, enhancing trainees' experiences in cardiovascular disease prevention, and utilizing technology to motivate change. Taken together, these interventions should increase the implementation of evidence-based therapies and improve the quality of life and cardiovascular outcomes of individuals with T2DM.

Ambulatory noninsulin treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the United States, 2015 to 2019

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends in the noninsulin drug treatment of type 2 diabetes, including first- and second-line therapies on top of metformin, from 2015 to 2019.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

We conducted a descriptive analysis of cross-sectional data using the IQVIA National Disease and Therapeutic Index, a nationally representative audit of ambulatory physician practices in the United States. We focused on the use of noninsulin pharmacological treatments for type 2 diabetes among individuals aged 35 years and older between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. The main outcome was type 2 diabetes visits where a prescription drug was used ("treatment visit").

RESULTS

Ambulatory diabetes visits decreased from 30.1 million treatment visits in 2015 to 29.5 million treatment visits in 2019. Among treatment visits where a single drug was prescribed, the use of metformin declined from 57.0% of monotherapy in 2015 to 46.0% of monotherapy in 2019, while during the same period the share of monotherapy accounted for by glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists increased from 4.3% to 8.5% and the share accounted for by sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors increased from 7.3% to 19.5%. Among treatment visits where metformin plus another drug was prescribed, the share of second-line therapy accounted for by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors decreased from 21.9% of treatment visits in 2015 to 20.8% of treatment visits in 2019; sulphonylurea use declined from 45.2% to 32.7%, use of SGLT2 inhibitors increased from 14.5% to 21.2% and use of GLP-1 receptor agonists increased from 9.8% to 18.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant changes in the landscape of ambulatory care for diabetes have taken place during the past 6 years, including moderate declines in metformin monotherapy, moderate declines in second-line sulphonylurea use, and large increases in SGLT2 use. These changes underscore the dynamic nature of drug utilization for diabetes in the United States, and reflect the effects of emerging evidence, evolving clinical guidelines and evolving regulatory and payment policies.

Medical Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease: Deciphering the Intricacies of Therapeutic Options

Due to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, the management for coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were considered homogenous, with therapies focused on the use of lipid-lowering medications, antiplatelet therapy, glucose control, and blood pressure management. However, more recently, studies have supported the use of tailored therapeutics and medical targets for patients with PAD that sometimes differ from those for coronary artery disease. Moreover, we are now witnessing large randomized PAD-specific trials that have altered therapeutic regimens and targets. Given these updates, dissemination of knowledge is lacking, as evidenced by discordant guideline recommendations. This comprehensive review provides an overview of contemporary therapeutic options for secondary prevention for patients with PAD.

Clinical Adverse Events Associated with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: A Meta-Analysis Involving 10 Randomized Clinical Trials and 71 553 Individuals

CONTEXT

SGLT2is are first-line antidiabetic agents with demonstrated cardiovascular benefits. Prior meta-analyses have examined adverse events (AEs) associated with these drugs in general, but such knowledge needs to be updated with the results of more recent trials. In addition, the occurrence of various AEs with different underlying diseases is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the occurrence of various AEs associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and to examine the level of risk of AEs in patients with different underlying diseases.

METHODS

We conducted a quantitative meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved from the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and the Cochrane library on January 31, 2021. Outcomes of interest included 4 overall safety outcomes (AEs) and 12 specified safety outcomes. Further analyses were performed on various subgroups, which were defined based on the status of diabetes mellitus (DM), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure, and by the dosage of SGLT2i (high dose vs low dose).

RESULTS

Our analysis included 10 eligible studies with a total of 71 553 participants. The meta-analysis showed that SGLT2i led to increased risks of genital infection (risk ratio [RR] 3.56, 95% CI 2.84-4.46), urinary tract infection (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12), diabetic ketoacidosis (RR 2.23, 95% CI 1.36-3.63), and volume depletion (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.23). However, the use of SGLT2i was associated with reduced risks of any serious AE (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90-0.94), acute kidney injury (AKI) (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.91), and hyperkalemia (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.99). Within the different subgroups, the risk of amputation was higher in patients with ASCVD than in those without (RR 1.44 vs 0.96, P = .066).

CONCLUSION

The use of SGLT2is is generally safe. SGLT2is may be associated with increased risks of genital infection but are protective against AKI. Of note, the risk of amputation was higher in patients with ASCVD. The key to the safe use of SGLT2is lies in the identification of high-risk populations and close surveillance of patients after treatment.

Challenges in Implementing Evidence Based Cross-Disciplinary Therapies: Are Cardiovascular Specialists Ready to Claim SGLT-2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Analogs?

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality and financial burden to the United States health system. A change in focus towards preventive medicine along with advances in pharmacologic and invasive therapies, has led to improved cardiac death rates. These benefits however, come with increased prevalence of heart failure and soaring readmission rates. Reducing burden of hospitalizations has therefore, been a focus of clinicians and researchers over the years. An improvement in clinical outcomes has been demonstrated in multiple trials investigating HF therapies, however, execution of guideline recommendations has been trailing. Over the past decade, 2 classes of hypoglycemic agents, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have been recognized for their cardiovascular morbidity and mortality benefits. Studies have shown that there has been a steady increase in prescription rates of these medications, however, overall usage remains quite low. Various patient, physician and system-based factors have been identified that cause barriers to translation of trial data to real-world clinical outcomes. A strategy focused on physician and patient education, quality improvement, multi-disciplinary team approach, and patient centered care is essential to meet treatment goals.

SGLT2 inhibitors and lower limb complications: an updated meta-analysis

Background

To exam the associations between the use of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and the risk of lower limb complications, and to analyze the associated factors.

Methods

Pubmed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials for Studies and Clinicaltrial.gov were searched from the inception to November 2020. Randomized controlled trials of SGLT2i conducted in population containing diabetic patients with reports of amputation, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diabetic foot (DF) events were included. Random-effect model, fixed-effect model and meta-regression analysis were accordingly used.

Result

The numbers of SGLT2i users versus non-SGLT2i users in the analyses of amputation, PAD and DF were 40,925/33,414, 36,446/28,685 and 31,907/25,570 respectively. Compared with non-SGLT2i users, the risks of amputation and PAD were slightly increased in patients with canagliflozin treatment (amputation: OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.46; PAD: OR = 1.53, 95 % CI 1.14 to 2.05). Meta-regression analyses indicated that greater weight reduction in SGLT2i users was significantly associated with the increased risks of amputation (β = − 0.461, 95% CI − 0.726 to − 0.197), PAD (β = − 0.359, 95% CI − 0.545 to − 0.172) and DF (β = − 0.476, 95% CI − 0.836 to − 0.116). Lower baseline diastolic blood pressure (β = − 0.528, 95% CI − 0.852 to − 0.205), more systolic blood pressure reduction (β = − 0.207, 95% CI − 0.390 to − 0.023) and more diastolic blood pressure reduction (β = − 0.312, 95% CI − 0.610 to − 0.015) were significantly associated with the increased risks of amputation, PAD and DF respectively in patients with SGLT2i treatment.

Conclusions

The risks of amputation and PAD were slightly increased in patients with canagliflozin treatment. Reductions in body weight and blood pressure were associated with lower limb complications in patients with SGLT2i treatment.

Safety of four SGLT2 inhibitors in three chronic diseases: A meta-analysis of large randomized trials of SGLT2 inhibitors

There are no relevant meta-analyses that have assessed the safety of the sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in different chronic diseases. We aimed at evaluating the safety of four SGLT2 inhibitors in three chronic diseases by meta-analysis of the large randomized trials of SGLT2 inhibitors. We performed random-effects meta-analysis and carried out subgroup analysis according to type of underlying diseases and type of SGLT2 inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors versus placebo significantly reduced the risk of acute kidney injury (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66-0.85), and showed the reduced trend in the risk of severe hypoglycemia (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.71-1.03). SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased the risks of diabetic ketoacidosis (RR 2.57), genital infection (RR 3.75), and volume depletion (RR 1.14); and showed the increased trends in the risks of fracture (RR 1.07), amputation (RR 1.21), and urinary tract infection (RR 1.07). These effects exhibited by SGLT2 inhibitors were consistent across three chronic diseases (i.e. type 2 diabetes, chronic heart failure, and chronic kidney disease) and four SGLT2 inhibitors (i.e. dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and canagliflozin) (all P_subgroup > 0.05). These findings will guide that specific adverse events are monitored when SGLT2 inhibitors are used in clinical practice.

Cardiovascular outcomes associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors versus other glucose-lowering drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real-world systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Glucose lowering agents that reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) would be considered a major advance. The reduction of cardiovascular risk by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) has been confirmed by some large-scale randomized controlled studies (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs, but exact indicators of cardiovascular risk remained controversial. Whether consistent results can be obtained in clinical practice is unclear. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we analyzed the real-world effect of SGLT-2i on cardiovascular outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We did a real-world systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome of SGLT-2i in patients with T2DM. We searched PubMed and Embase for trials published up to October 23, 2019. Data search and extraction were completed with a standardized data form and any discrepancies were resolved by consensus. The primary outcome was MACE and all-cause mortality (ACM). Secondary outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiovascular mortality (CVM), unstable angina (UA), heart failure (HF). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs were pooled across trials, and cardiovascular outcomes were stratified by baseline incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), usage rate of cardiovascular benefit drug, follow-up period and region.

RESULTS

Fourteen trials enrolling 3,157,259 patients were included. SGLT-2i reduced MACE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.67,0.75, P<0.001) and ACM (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.49,0.57, P<0.001) compared to other glucose lowering drugs (oGLD). Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF. SGLT-2i significantly reduced the risk of severe hypoglycemia (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.69,0.90, P<0.001) and lower limb amputation (OR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.71,0.98, P<0.001), but it may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Subgroup analysis showed SGLT-2i reduced the risk of MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF with a similar benefit regardless of the incidence of CVD was (20-30)% or < 15%, (15-30)% or <15% have been treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), >80% or <70% have been treated with statins or both GLP-1RA and statins. SGLT-2i reduced the risk of ACM in low-risk population (P<0.001). No inconsistencies were found when stratification was performed at 1 or (3-4) years of follow-up except for BKA followed up for 1 year. SGLT-2i showed similar cardiovascular benefits in the Nordic countries, Asia and the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

The predominant impact of SGLT-2i is on cardiovascular outcome driven predominantly by reduction in MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM, HF, but not UA or AF. SGLT-2i has robust benefits on reducing MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF regardless of a history of usage rate of GLP-1RA and/or statins and /or metformin. SGLT-2i does not increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia and lower limb amputation.