Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors as adjunct therapy for type 1 diabetes and the benefit on cardiovascular and renal disease evaluated by Steno risk engines

AIMS: Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors (SGLTi) have beneficial cardiovascular and renal effects in persons with type 2 diabetes. No studies have shown whether this can be demonstrated in type 1 diabetes (T1D). We aimed to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in persons with T1D with and without treatment with SGLTi.

METHODS: The study is based on 3660 adults with T1D. The Steno Type 1 Risk Engines were used to calculate 5-year risks of ESKD and 5- and 10-year risk of CVD. The effect of SGLTi was simulated by changing the HbA 1c and systolic blood pressure values in accordance with results from the DEPICT studies with mean (standard deviation (SD)) of -3.6 (0.9) mmol/mol (-2.5 % (2.2)) and -1.12 (2.8) mmHg. eGFR and albuminuria were changed in accordance with results from the Tandem studies; no change in eGFR and mean (SD) %-change in albuminuria of -23.7 (12.9).

RESULTS: We found a 5-year CVD relative risk reduction of 6.1 % (95%CI 5.9,6.3) and 11.1 % (10.0,12.2) in the subgroup with albuminuria with similar results for the 10-year CVD risk. For the estimated 5-year risk of ESKD, we found a relative risk reduction of 5.3 % (5.1,5.4) with 7.6 % (6.9,8.4) in the subgroup with albuminuria.

CONCLUSION: We found a significant CVD and ESKD risk reduction, especially in the subgroup with albuminuria.