Use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and urinary tract infections in type 2 diabetes patients: a systematic review

[The effect of a medicinal plant preparation on the frequency of episodes of exacerbation of recurrent cystitis and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus taking glyphlosins]

BACKGROUND

The problem of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2) is relevant, especially when there is a combination of predisposing factors, such as female gender, history of UTI episodes, and therapy with sodium glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, and the choice of effective and safe means could cause some difficulties, including ina terms of the burden of antibiotic resistance.

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the phytoproduct Canephron® N for the prevention of exacerbations of recurrent cystitis and the effect on metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT-2 inhibitors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective, randomized, open, parallel group study in 60 women. The main group took the drug Canephron® N for 3 months. The main parameters for evaluating were the frequency of recurrence of cystitis, level of albuminuria and LDL-cholesterol peroxidation product - malondialdehyde.

RESULTS

Within 3 months of taking Canephron® N, exacerbations of chronic cystitis were diagnosed 2 times less often, a decrease in albuminuria was found in the form of an increase in the proportion of patients with an optimal level of albuminuria by 20%, a 50% reduction in the frequency of the initial increase in albuminuria, and the absence of moderate albuminuria in all patients at the end of course of therapy. A decrease in the level of MDA by 1.4 times was noted (p=0.019).

CONCLUSION

Thus, the herbal drug Canephron® N can be used for accompanying therapy and prophylactic treatment in patients with recurrent cystitis on the background of DM 2, taking SGLT-2 inhibitors. The course of therapy should last at least 3 months.

Lower Urinary Tract Disorders as Adverse Drug Reactions-A Literature Review

A potential complication of pharmacotherapy for a given patient is the possibility of various side effects of drugs, which are manifested in many ways and constitute iatrogenic causes of diseases. Among the systemic side effects of drugs, there are also those involving the urinary tract, although these are less reported in the literature. The use of numerous drugs-especially of anticholinergics or drugs with anticholinergic potential, opioid analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, first-generation antipsychotics (classic neuroleptics) and selected cardiovascular drugs (beta-blockers, thiazides potassium-sparing diuretics, statins), as well as others-may increase the risk of developing urological disorders, such as urinary retention or incontinence, urinary tract infections, urolithiasis, erectile dysfunction in men and retroperitoneal fibrosis. The purpose of this paper is to characterise the abovementioned drug-induced disorders of the lower urinary tract on the basis of a non-systematic literature review.

Practical considerations for the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in the Asia-Pacific countries-An expert consensus statement

Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of SGLT-2 inhibitors in reducing the risks of cardiovascular and renal events in both patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Consequently, many international guidelines have begun advocating for the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors for the purpose of organ protection rather than as simply a glucose-lowering agent. However, despite the consistent clinical benefits and available strong guideline recommendations, the utilization of SGLT-2 inhibitors have been unexpectedly low in many countries, a trend which is much more noticeable in low resource settings. Unfamiliarity with the recent focus in their organ protective role and clinical indications; concerns with potential adverse effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors, including acute kidney injury, genitourinary infections, euglycemic ketoacidosis; and their safety profile in elderly populations have been identified as deterring factors to their more widespread use. This review serves as a practical guide to clinicians managing patients who could benefit from SGLT-2 inhibitors treatment and instill greater confidence in the initiation of these drugs, with the aim of optimizing their utilization rates in high-risk populations.

Safety and efficacy of Empagliflozin in Pakistani Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes (SAFE-PAK); a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-Glucose-Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor (Empagliflozin) is an effective drug in controlling blood glucose through predominantly glycosuria. Glycosuria increases the risk of genitourinary infections in diabetes. This study was aimed to establish the safety and efficacy of Empagliflozin (Group-A) versus standard care (Group-B) in Pakistani Muslim individuals with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A multicenter, randomized clinical trial was conducted in five cities across Pakistan from July 2019 to August 2020. Patients of both genders aged 18-75 years, body mass index (BMI) ≤ 45 kg/m², glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7-10% (53 mmol/mol to 86 mmol/mol) and treatment-naive to Empagliflozin were included. Treatment was given for 24 weeks, and allocation was done through randomization.

RESULTS

Out of 745 screened patients, 333 met the eligibility criteria, and a total of 244 (73.3%) patients were enrolled. More hypoglycemic events were reported in the standard care group, whereas positive urine culture, fungal infection, dehydration, and hypotension occurrence were comparable between the two groups. The 6 months mean HbA1c reduction was significant in both groups; (Group-A: 0.91 ± 0.15; p < 0.001 vs. Group-B2: 0.79 ± 0.14; p < 0.001). Efficacy comparison at 6 months revealed a significant reduction in weight and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in Group A only (Group-A: 1.4 ± 0.4 kg; p < 0.002 vs. Group-B: 0.01 ± 0.5 kg; p < 1.00), (Group-A: 5.1 ± 1.7 mmHg; p < 0.012 vs. Group-B: 2.3 ± 1.7 mmHg; p < 0.526).

CONCLUSIONS

Empagliflozin was a safe drug compared to standard care in Pakistani Muslim patients with diabetes. It was as effective as standard care in the clinical setting but achieved glycemic control by reducing weight and SBP in type 2 diabetes patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the NIH US National Library of Medicine clinical trials registry at Clinicaltrials.gov with the registration number: NCT04665284 on 11/12/2020.

The Incidence and Risk Factors of Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Real-World Observational Study

Background: The incidence and risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who use sodium glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are still controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of using SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly in Thai patients. Methods: Electronic medication records of all patients, who started the treatment of T2DM between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2021 at a tertiary hospital in Thailand, were reviewed. The patients were divided into SGLT2 inhibitor and non-SGLT2 inhibitor groups to compare the incidence of UTI. Results: The overall incidence rate of UTI was 33.49% in the SGLT2 inhibitor group and 11.72% in the non-SGLT2 inhibitor group. The incidence rates of UTI were not different between dapagliflozin and empagliflozin treatment (34.00% and 33.03%, respectively). Patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors had a 3.70 higher risk of UTI compared with those treated with non-SGLT2 inhibitors (95%CI 2.60-5.29). Moreover, the significant risk factors for UTI found in this study were gender, age, and occupation. Conclusions: This study highlighted the high incidence of UTI in patients using dapagliflozin and empagliflozin compared with non-SGLT2 inhibitors. Additionally, patients of female gender and older age had a significantly higher risk of UTI when treated with SGLT2 inhibitors, whereas those with permanent jobs had a lower risk.

Could Dapagliflozin Attenuate COVID-19 Progression in High-Risk Patients With or Without Diabetes? Behind DARE-19 Concept

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological studies indicate that diabetes is the second most common comorbidity in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, exerts direct cardioprotective and nephroprotective effects. DARE-19 (Dapagliflozin in Respiratory Failure in Patients With COVID-19), an ongoing clinical trial, is designed to investigate the impact of dapagliflozin on COVID-19 progression. This article discusses the potential favorable impact of dapagliflozin on COVID-19 and its complications.

Comprehensive evaluation of cardiovascular efficacy and safety outcomes of SGLT2 inhibitors in high risk patients of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To demonstrate a magnitude of the cardiovascular benefits, concomitantly analyzing the safety outcomes of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2-I) comprehensively, as a class effect in a larger sample size combined from recent randomized control trials.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases using specific terms and evaluated 6 efficacy and 10 safety outcomes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to compare two interventions.

RESULTS

Five studies (n = 41 267) were included, among which 23 539 received SGLT2-I. The SGLT2-I group favored reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.98; P = 0.03), cardiovascular death (CVD) or heart failure hospitalization (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.46-0.80; P = 0.0004), rate of hospitalization for heart failure (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44-0.72; P < 0.00001), CVD (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.93; P = 0.01), all-cause mortality (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.93; P = 0.02) and myocardial infarction (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99; P = 0.04) when compared to the placebo group. Safety analysis showed higher diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) rate in SGLT2-I group (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.40-3.90; P = 0.001); in contrast, major hypoglycemic events were significantly lower (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.73-0.87; P < 0.00001). AKI was significantly higher in the placebo group (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.65-0.88; P = 0.0004). There were no statistically significant effects on other outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In selected high-risk patients of cardiovascular disease, the SGLT2-I is a potential effective class of drugs for improving cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality without an increased risk of all other major complications except DKA on this meta-analysis.

Complicated urinary tract infections with diabetes mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) sometimes exhibited impaired immune function and aggravated infectious diseases. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the major complications of DM. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane Library using the following keywords: diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection, asymptomatic bacteriuria, emphysematous pyelonephritis, emphysematous cystitis, renal papillary necrosis, and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The treatment of UTI in DM patients is not different from that in non-DM patients, and asymptomatic bacteriuria should not be screened or treated. Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a life-threatening renal infection with gas in the renal parenchyma or perirenal space, and 95% of affected patients had DM. Abdominal computed tomography is useful for diagnosis and determining treatment strategies. Medical management and percutaneous drainage are standard initial treatment, and subsequent nephrectomy for non-responders is considered. Nephrectomy, as an initial treatment, should be limited to a selected group of patients with severe conditions. In contrast, antibiotics, glycemic control, and bladder drainage are adequate treatment for most cases of emphysematous cystitis. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased the incidence of genital tract infection, but not that of UTI, pyelonephritis, or urosepsis. Here, we present cumulative evidence about etiology and management for complicated UTI with DM, but there was little information about racial differences and further evidence focusing on Asian population will be needed.

SGLT2 inhibitors and kidneys: mechanisms and main effects in diabetes mellitus patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the cause of the development of diabetic nephropathy — a complication that determines the high degree of disability and mortality of such patients. Until recently, approaches to normalizing glucose levels did not have a significant possibility of influencing the outcome of kidney damage in diabetes. Type 2 sodium glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLT2) are a new class of glucose-lowering drugs that improve glycemic control due to an insulin-independent mechanism of action associated with increased urinary glucose excretion. The review provides an analysis of the results of studies on the assessment of nephroprotective actions — one of the pleiotropic actions of this drugs group. These materials show the properties of SGLT2 inhibitors to reduce the risk of developing and the progression of albuminuria, to save glomerular filtration rate, to reduce the frequency of end-stage renal disease and the need for renal replacement therapy in patients with T2DM. The article gives and analyzes the currently existing hypotheses of the mechanism of action of these glucose-lowering drugs. The risk of the most common renal complications with the use of SGLT2 inhibitors is considered. The practical aspects of the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in modern algorithms for the care of patients with T2DM are indicated, as well as the prospects for new randomized clinical trials. 

[Urinary tract infections in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with pharmacological glucosuria]

Selective inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter belong to a new class of drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mechanism of their action is based on insulin-independent reduction of glucose reabsorption in the proximal renal tubules, which leads to stimulation of its excretion in the urine and, accordingly, to a decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood plasma. Drugs of this group demonstrate effectiveness in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but their use may be associated with an increased frequency of urinary tract infections. Pharmacological glucosuria, which leads to a decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood, creates the preconditions for the occurrence of urinary tract infections. Urinary tract and genital infections are the most common adverse events associated with the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors. In the presented literature review for 20162019, the relationship between urinary tract infections in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors was analyzed.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors and the risk of urosepsis: A multi-site, prevalent new-user cohort study

AIM

To compare urosepsis rates in patients with type 2 diabetes treated using sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in a real-world setting.

METHODS

We conducted a matched cohort study using a prevalent new-user design with time-conditional propensity scores. New users of SGLT2i from seven Canadian provinces and the UK were matched to DPP4i users. The primary outcome was hospitalization with a diagnosis of urosepsis and the secondary outcome was Fournier's gangrene. Site-specific hazard ratios for urosepsis comparing SGLT2i with DPP4i were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models and pooled using a random effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We included 208 244 users of SGLT2i and 208 244 users of DPP4i. Among SGLT2i users, 42% initiated canagliflozin, 31% dapagliflozin and 27% empagliflozin. During a mean follow-up of 0.9 years, patients initiating SGLT2i had a lower rate of urosepsis compared with those receiving DPP4i. The pooled adjusted hazard ratio was 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-0.80). The incidence rates of Fournier's gangrene were numerically similar in SGLT2i (0.08 per 1000 person-years; 95% CI: 0.05-0.13) and DPP4i users (0.14; 95% CI: 0.09-0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, multi-site study, we did not observe an increased risk for urosepsis associated with SGLT2i compared with DPP4i among patients with type 2 diabetes in a real-world setting.