Cost-Effectiveness of Empagliflozin in Patients With Diabetic Kidney Disease in the United States: Findings Based on the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on kidney outcomes have been demonstrated in clinical trials. Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular (CV) disease enrolled in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01131676), empagliflozin added to standard of care (SOC) reduced the risk of incident or worsening nephropathy compared with SOC alone. This analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin versus SOC alone in the subpopulation with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of US commercial insurers and Medicare. STUDY DESIGN: Discrete event simulation model. SETTING & POPULATION: Patients with DKD in a US health care system. INTERVENTIONS: Empagliflozin 10 or 25mg with SOC versus SOC alone. SOC included glucose-lowering therapies and medications to treat CV risk factors. OUTCOMES: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (2020 US dollars per quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] gained). Costs and QALYs were discounted 3.0% per year. MODEL, PERSPECTIVE, & TIME FRAME: Cost-effectiveness analysis, commercial insurers and Medicare perspective, lifetime horizon. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of empagliflozin with SOC versus SOC alone was $25,974 per QALY. Empagliflozin added 0.67 QALYs and $17,322 per patient over a lifetime horizon. Results were driven by fewer clinical events (including CV death, heart failure hospitalization, albuminuria progression, and a composite kidney outcome) experienced by patients receiving empagliflozin with SOC versus SOC alone. Results were sensitive to rates of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and heart failure hospitalization, as well as to drug costs and time horizon. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses indicated 91% of simulations at <$50,000 per QALY. LIMITATIONS: The EMPA-REG OUTCOME study was not powered to assess treatment benefits in a subgroup and excluded patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate<30mL/min/1.73m2. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study, this cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that, for commercial insurers and Medicare, adding empagliflozin to SOC may be a cost-effective treatment option for patients with DKD.

Characterization and implications of the initial estimated glomerular filtration rate 'dip' upon sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition with empagliflozin in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial.

Treatment with sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors induces an initial 3-5 ml/min/1.73 m2 decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Although considered to be of hemodynamic origin and largely reversible, this 'eGFR dip' may cause concern in clinical practice, which highlights the need to better understand its incidence and clinical implications. In this post hoc analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, 6,668 participants randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg or placebo with eGFR available at baseline and week four were categorized by initial eGFR change into three groups; over 10% decline ('eGFR dipper'), over 0 and up to 10% decline ('eGFR intermediate'), no eGFR decline ('eGFR non-dipper'). Baseline characteristics of 'eGFR intermediate' and 'eGFR non-dipper' were generally comparable. An initial 'eGFR dip' was observed in 28.3% of empagliflozin versus 13.4% of placebo-treated participants; odds ratio 2.7 [95% Confidence Interval 2.3-3.0]. In multivariate logistic regression, diuretic use and higher KDIGO risk category at baseline were independently predictive of an 'eGFR dip' in empagliflozin versus placebo. Safety and beneficial treatment effects with empagliflozin on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes were consistent across subgroups based on these predictive factors. The initial 'eGFR dip' did not have a major impact on the treatment effect of empagliflozin on subsequent cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, and incident or worsening kidney disease. Thus, patients with type 2 diabetes with more advanced kidney disease and/or on diuretic therapy were more likely to experience an 'eGFR dip' of over 10% with empagliflozin, but reduction in cardiovascular and kidney outcomes was not relevantly modified by such 'eGFR dip.'

Choice of endpoint in kidney outcome trials: considerations from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial.

BACKGROUND: Doubling of serum creatinine [equivalent to 57% reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)] is an established surrogate for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); however, this endpoint necessitates lengthy follow-up and large sample sizes in clinical trials. We explored whether alternative eGFR decline thresholds provide more feasible surrogate kidney endpoints. METHODS: The study involved post hoc analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial. Adults with type 2 diabetes, high cardiovascular risk and eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 were assigned empagliflozin 10 mg or 25 mg (n = 4687) or placebo (n = 2333), on top of standard of care. We assessed composite endpoints incorporating different eGFR decline thresholds (≥30, ≥40, ≥50 or ≥57%) combined with initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) or renal death. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01131676). RESULTS: Empagliflozin versus placebo significantly lowered the risk of decline in eGFR for each threshold listed above, combined with initiation of RRT or renal death, ranging from a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.91] for endpoints based on 30% eGFR decline to an HR of 0.37 (0.23-0.61) for endpoints based on 57% eGFR decline. Lower thresholds (e.g. 30%) were associated with higher event rates but weaker treatment effects. The time to the 95% CI of the HR falling to <1.0 decreased with increasing eGFR threshold. CONCLUSIONS: The composite of 40% decline in eGFR, ESKD or renal death appears to provide reliable results similar to the traditional 57% decline in eGFR.

Consistent effects of empagliflozin on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes irrespective of diabetic kidney disease categories: Insights from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial.

AIM: To explore the cardiovascular (CV) and kidney effects of empagliflozin in patients with different clinical phenotypes of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) (i.e. with the presence or absence of overt albuminuria) participating in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EMPA-REG OUTCOME randomized participants (1:1:1) to empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg or placebo, added to standard of care. Post hoc, patients with different clinical phenotypes of DKD at baseline were categorized in three subgroups: (a) overt DKD (overt albuminuria [urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of >300 mg/g] with any estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]; n = 769); (b) non-overt DKD (kidney impairment [eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 ] without overt albuminuria [urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≤300 mg/g]; n = 1290); and (c) 'all others' (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 without overt albuminuria; n = 4893). Analyses included CV (death, hospitalization for heart failure, all-cause hospitalization) and selected kidney outcomes, change in eGFR and kidney safety. Cox proportional hazards models assessed the consistency of treatment effect across subgroups. RESULTS: Empagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of CV and kidney outcomes across all subgroups (P-values for interaction >.05), consistent with the overall trial population findings. Empagliflozin also significantly reduced the yearly loss of eGFR, assessed by chronic slopes, in all subgroups. The adverse event profile of empagliflozin was similar across all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Empagliflozin may improve CV and kidney outcomes and slow the progression of kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients with DKD, irrespective of its clinical form, both with or without the presence of overt albuminuria.

Analysis from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial indicates empagliflozin may assist in preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes irrespective of medications that alter intrarenal hemodynamics.

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular (CV) disease, empagliflozin (EMPA) decreased progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), likely via a reduction in intraglomerular pressure. Due to prevalent comorbidities, such as hypertension and albuminuria, patients often receive other agents that alter intrarenal hemodynamics, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and diuretics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used by some individuals. In this exploratory, non-prespecified analysis, we investigated whether the kidney benefits of EMPA are altered in individuals already using the medications in these categories. In the BI 10773 (Empagliflozin) Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG OUTCOME®) trial, 7020 patients were essentially equally randomized to EMPA 10 mg, 25 mg or placebo added to their standard care. Differences in risk of incident or worsening nephropathy for pooled EMPA vs placebo across subgroups by baseline background medications (to which patients were not randomized) were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Risk reductions in incident or worsening nephropathy with EMPA were consistent across medication subgroups, with no heterogeneity of treatment effect. As a representative example, the risk for acute renal failure was overall slightly increased in patients using ACEi/ARBs in all groups (placebo, EMPA 10 mg or EMPA 25 mg) but incidence rates were numerically lower in those assigned to EMPA. Similar patterns were observed for other medications included in this analysis. Thus, EMPA may assist to prevent CKD progression in patients with T2DM with CV disease, irrespective of common background medications that alter intrarenal hemodynamics, and without increasing acute renal adverse events.

Empagliflozin and Kidney Function Decline in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Slope Analysis from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial.

BACKGROUND: Empagliflozin slowed the progression of CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial. In a prespecified statistical approach, we assessed treatment differences in kidney function by analyzing slopes of eGFR changes. METHODS: Participants (n=7020) were randomized (1:1:1) to empagliflozin 10 mg/d, empagliflozin 25 mg/d, or placebo added to standard of care. We calculated eGFR slopes using random-intercept/random-coefficient models for prespecified study periods: treatment initiation (baseline to week 4), chronic maintenance treatment (week 4 to last value on treatment), and post-treatment (last value on treatment to follow-up). RESULTS: Compared with placebo, empagliflozin was associated with uniform shifts in individual eGFR slopes across all periods. On treatment initiation, adjusted mean slope (eGFR change per week, ml/min per 1.73 m2) decreased with empagliflozin (-0.77; 95% confidence interval, -0.83 to -0.71; placebo: 0.01; 95% confidence interval, -0.08 to 0.10; P<0.001). However, annual mean slope (ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year) did not decline with empagliflozin during chronic treatment (empagliflozin: 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.40; placebo: -1.46; 95% confidence interval, -1.74 to -1.17; P<0.001). After drug cessation, the adjusted mean eGFR slope (ml/min per 1.73 m2 per week) increased and mean eGFR returned toward baseline level only in the empagliflozin group (0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.62; placebo -0.02; 95% confidence interval, -0.12 to 0.08; P<0.001). Results were consistent across patient subgroups at higher CKD risk. CONCLUSIONS: The hemodynamic effects of empagliflozin, associated with reduction in intraglomerular pressure, may contribute to long-term preservation of kidney function.

Linagliptin and its effects on hyperglycaemia and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal dysfunction: the randomized MARLINA-T2D trial.

AIMS: The MARLINA-T2D study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01792518) was designed to investigate the glycaemic and renal effects of linagliptin added to standard-of-care in individuals with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria. METHODS: A total of 360 individuals with type 2 diabetes, HbA1c 6.5% to 10.0% (48-86 mmol/mol), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) 30-3000 mg/g despite single agent renin-angiotensin-system blockade were randomized to double-blind linagliptin (n = 182) or placebo (n = 178) for 24 weeks. The primary and key secondary endpoints were change from baseline in HbA1c at week 24 and time-weighted average of percentage change from baseline in UACR over 24 weeks, respectively. RESULTS: Baseline mean HbA1c and geometric mean (gMean) UACR were 7.8% ± 0.9% (62.2 ± 9.6 mmol/mol) and 126 mg/g, respectively; 73.7% and 20.3% of participants had microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria, respectively. After 24 weeks, the placebo-adjusted mean change in HbA1c from baseline was -0.60% (-6.6 mmol/mol) (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.78 to -0.43 [-8.5 to -4.7 mmol/mol]; P < .0001). The placebo-adjusted gMean for time-weighted average of percentage change in UACR from baseline was -6.0% (95% CI, -15.0 to 3.0; P = .1954). The adverse-event profile, including renal safety and change in eGFR, was similar between the linagliptin and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: In individuals at early stages of diabetic kidney disease, linagliptin significantly improved glycaemic control but did not significantly lower albuminuria. There was no significant change in placebo-adjusted eGFR. Detection of clinically relevant renal effects of linagliptin may require longer treatment, as its main experimental effects in animal studies have been to reduce interstitial fibrosis rather than alter glomerular haemodynamics.

Nephrotic-range proteinuria in type 2 diabetes: Effects of empagliflozin on kidney disease progression and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease with nephrotic-range proteinuria (NRP) is commonly associated with rapid kidney function loss, increased cardiovascular risk, and premature mortality. We explored the effect of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, complicated by presence of this major risk factor for progressive kidney disease, in a post-hoc analysis of data from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (NCT01131676). METHODS: Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the risk of cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in participants with and without NRP, defined by urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥2200 mg/g at baseline. Annual loss of eGFR during chronic treatment (eGFR slopes) and hypothetical time to projected end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), conditioning upon linearity of eGFR change over time if a patient did not decease before projected ESKD, were calculated using a random-intercept random-coefficient model. Safety was described based on investigator-reported adverse events. FINDINGS: 112 participants (pooled empagliflozin, n = 70; placebo, n = 42; median on-treatment follow-up of 1·9 years on placebo compared with 2·3 years on empagliflozin) presented with NRP at baseline; eGFR and UACR were balanced between treatments. Empagliflozin benefits on cardiovascular death, hospitalisation for heart failure, or kidney outcomes, were consistent in participants with and without NRP (pinteraction >0·1). Treatment effects of empagliflozin on adjusted annual mean eGFR slope were more pronounced in participants with NRP versus those without (pinteraction 0·005). Empagliflozin was estimated to double the median hypothetical time to projected ESKD in participants with NRP. The overall safety profile of empagliflozin was comparable between participants with and without NRP at baseline. INTERPRETATION: Our data suggests that empagliflozin might slow kidney function loss and delay the estimated onset of projected ESKD in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease complicated by NRP.

Cardio/Kidney Composite End Points: A Post Hoc Analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial.

Background Cardio/kidney composite end points are clinically relevant but rarely analyzed in cardiovascular trials. This post hoc analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients) trial evaluated cardio/kidney composite end points by 2 statistical approaches. Methods and Results A total of 7020 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease were treated with empagliflozin 10 or 25 mg (n=4687) or placebo (n=2333) on top of standard care. Cardio/kidney composite end points studied were: (1) cardiac or kidney death, kidney failure, hospitalization for heart failure, sustained decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥40% from baseline, or sustained progression to macroalbuminuria; (2) cardiac or kidney death, kidney failure, hospitalization for heart failure, or sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate decline ≥40% from baseline; and (3) cardiac or kidney death, kidney failure, hospitalization for heart failure, or sustained doubling in serum creatinine from baseline. Cox regression using time-to-first-event analysis and win ratio (WR) using hierarchical order of events were applied. Empagliflozin reduced the risk of all cardio/kidney composites. The results varied only slightly between Cox and WR (eg, composite 1: hazard ratio, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.49-0.64]; WR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.53-2.02]. WR prioritizes events by clinical importance; in particular, all fatal events are evaluated, whereas Cox regression ignores deaths when preceded by nonfatal events. Of the 285 cardio/kidney deaths in the analysis, 44 to 56 (15%-20%), depending on the composite, occurred after a nonfatal event and were not evaluated in Cox regression but evaluated by the WR. Conclusions By considering the clinical relevance of different event types, the WR represents an appropriate method to complement the traditional time-to-first-event analysis in cardio/kidney outcomes. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01131676.

Empagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcomes across KDIGO Risk Categories: Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multinational Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients (EMPA-REG Outcome), empagliflozin, in addition to standard of care, significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular death by 38%, hospitalization for heart failure by 35%, and incident or worsening nephropathy by 39% compared with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Using EMPA-REG Outcome data, we assessed whether the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD classification had an influence on the treatment effect of empagliflozin. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Patients with type 2 diabetes, established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and eGFR≥30 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at screening were randomized to receive empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg, or placebo once daily in addition to standard of care. Post hoc, we analyzed cardiovascular and kidney outcomes, and safety, using the two-dimensional KDIGO classification framework. RESULTS: Of 6952 patients with baseline eGFR and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio values, 47%, 29%, 15%, and 8% were classified into low, moderately increased, high, and very high KDIGO risk categories, respectively. Empagliflozin showed consistent risk reductions across KDIGO categories for cardiovascular outcomes (P values for treatment by subgroup interactions ranged from 0.26 to 0.85) and kidney outcomes (P values for treatment by subgroup interactions ranged from 0.16 to 0.60). In all KDIGO risk categories, placebo and empagliflozin had similar adverse event rates, the notable exception being genital infection events, which were more common with empagliflozin for each category. CONCLUSIONS: The observed effects of empagliflozin versus placebo on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes were consistent across the KDIGO risk categories, indicating that the effect of treatment benefit of empagliflozin was unaffected by baseline CKD status. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER: EMPA-REG OUTCOME, NCT01131676.

Short-Term Changes in Albuminuria and Risk of Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Post Hoc Analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME Trial.

Background Early reduction in albuminuria with an SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitor may be a positive indicator of long-term cardiovascular and renal benefits. We assessed changes in albuminuria during the first 12 weeks of treatment and subsequent long-term cardiovascular and renal risks associated with the SGLT2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 diabetes Mellitus Patients) trial. Methods and Results We calculated the percentage urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) change from baseline to week 12 in 6820 participants who did not experience a cardiovascular outcome (including 3-point major cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure) or renal outcome (defined as 40% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline, estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min per 1.73 m2, need for continuous renal-replacement therapy, or renal death) during the first 12 weeks. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for each 30% reduction in UACR with outcomes. Empagliflozin reduced UACR by 18% (95% CI, 14-22) at week 12 compared with placebo, and increased the likelihood of a >30% reduction in UACR (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.27-1.58; P<0.001). During 3.0 years of follow-up, 704 major cardiovascular events, 440 cardiovascular deaths/hospitalizations for heart failure, and 168 renal outcomes were observed. Each 30% decrease in UACR during the first 12 weeks was statistically significantly associated with a lower hazard for major cardiovascular events (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.99; P=0.012), cardiovascular deaths/hospitalizations for heart failure (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98; P=0.003), and renal outcomes (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78-0.89; P<0.001). Conclusions Short-term reduction in UACR was more common with empagliflozin and was statistically significantly associated with a decreased risk of long-term cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01131676.

Disparate Effects of Diabetes and Hyperlipidemia on Experimental Kidney Disease.

It is well established that diabetes is the major cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Both hyperglycemia, and more recently, advanced glycation endproducts, have been shown to play critical roles in the development of kidney disease. Moreover, the renin-angiotensin system along with growth factors and cytokines have also been shown to contribute to the onset and progression of diabetic kidney disease; however, the role of lipids in this context is poorly characterized. The current study aimed to compare the effect of 20 weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes or western diet feeding on kidney disease in two different mouse strains, C57BL/6 mice and hyperlipidemic apolipoprotein (apo) E knockout (KO) mice. Mice were fed a chow diet (control), a western diet (21% fat, 0.15% cholesterol) or were induced with streptozotocin-diabetes (55 mg/kg/day for 5 days) then fed a chow diet and followed for 20 weeks. The induction of diabetes was associated with a 3-fold elevation in glycated hemoglobin and an increase in kidney to body weight ratio regardless of strain (p < 0.0001). ApoE deficiency significantly increased plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels and feeding of a western diet exacerbated these effects. Despite this, urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was elevated in diabetic mice to a similar extent in both strains (p < 0.0001) but no effect was seen with a western diet in either strain. Diabetes was also associated with extracellular matrix accumulation in both strains, and western diet feeding to a lesser extent in apoE KO mice. Consistent with this, an increase in renal mRNA expression of the fibrotic marker, fibronectin, was observed in diabetic C57BL/6 mice (p < 0.0001). In summary, these studies demonstrate disparate effects of diabetes and hyperlipidemia on kidney injury, with features of the diabetic milieu other than lipids suggested to play a more prominent role in driving renal pathology.

Empagliflozin and kidney outcomes in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease: Results from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: In the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial, empagliflozin added to standard of care improved clinically relevant kidney outcomes by 39%, slowed progression of chronic kidney disease, and reduced albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. This exploratory analysis investigated the effects of empagliflozin on the kidneys in Asian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial were randomized (1:1:1) to empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg or a placebo. In patients of Asian race, we analyzed incident or worsening nephropathy (progression to macroalbuminuria, doubling of serum creatinine, initiation of renal-replacement therapy or renal death) and its components, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio changes, and renal safety. RESULTS: Of 7,020 treated patients, 1,517 (26.1%) were Asian. In this subgroup, consistent with the overall trial population, empagliflozin reduced the risk of incident or worsening nephropathy (hazard ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.83), progression to macroalbuminuria (hazard ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.49-0.85) and the composite of doubling of serum creatinine, initiation of renal-replacement therapy or renal death (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.25-0.92). Furthermore, empagliflozin-treated participants showed slower eGFR decline versus placebo, and showed rapid urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio reduction at week 12, maintained through week 164, with effects most pronounced in those with baseline microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria. The kidney safety profile of empagliflozin in the Asian subgroup was similar to the overall trial population. CONCLUSIONS: In Asian patients from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial, empagliflozin improved kidney outcomes, slowed eGFR decline and lowered albuminuria versus placebo, consistent with the overall trial population findings.

Neurovascular Response to Pressure in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a problem worldwide, and prevention is crucial. We hypothesized that the inability of the skin to respond to pressure is involved in DFU pathogenesis and could be an important predictive factor to take into account. We included 29 patients with DFU and 30 patients with type 2 diabetes without DFU. Neuropathy and skin blood flow at rest were assessed in response to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, local heating (42°C), and to nonnoxious locally applied pressure. Results were compared with those obtained from 10 healthy age-matched control subjects. Vasodilatation in response to pressure was significantly impaired in both groups with diabetes compared with healthy subjects. The vasodilator capacity to pressure was significantly lower in patients with DFU compared with those without DFU, despite the absence of significant difference in cutaneous pressure perception threshold and vascular reactivity to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, and heat. This pronounced alteration of neurovascular response to pressure in patients with DFU is a good marker of skin vulnerability and could be used to better predict individuals at risk.

Hemodynamic effects of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria.

OBJECTIVE: Concomitant treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors is increasingly common. Pharmacological studies have suggested a potential adverse drug interaction between ACE inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors resulting in unfavorable hemodynamic changes; very few studies have examined such an interaction between angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and DPP-4 inhibitors. We investigated blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during treatment with the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin in individuals receiving either ACE inhibitors or ARBs in the MARLINA-T2D trial. METHODS: In this study, 360 individuals with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria receiving unchanged doses of ACE inhibitors or ARBs were randomized to linagliptin or placebo. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, an exploratory endpoint, was conducted at baseline and after 24 weeks. RESULTS: Ambulatory BP monitoring data were available for 208 individuals (linagliptin: n = 111; placebo: n = 97). Baseline mean ±â€ŠSD 24-h SBP and DBP were 132.5 ±â€Š12.4 mmHg and 75.9 ±â€Š9.4 mmHg, respectively; mean 24-h HR was 76.3 ±â€Š10.1 bpm. At week 24, no overall effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor versus placebo was seen on mean 24-h SBP, DBP, or HR. Furthermore, in the subgroups receiving either an ACE inhibitor or an ARB, no effect on these hemodynamic parameters was seen as a result of concomitant DPP-4 inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION: Adding linagliptin to treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARBs was not associated with any hemodynamic changes, supporting their concomitant use in individuals with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria.

Empagliflozin Improves Kidney Outcomes in Patients With or Without Heart Failure.

Background In EMPA-REG OUTCOME (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients) empagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease. Post hoc, we evaluated empagliflozin on kidney outcomes in patients with or without heart failure (HF). Methods and Results Individuals were randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg, 25 mg, or placebo. Prespecified analyses by baseline HF status included risk of incident or worsening nephropathy and estimated glomerular filtration rate slope analyses. Cox proportional hazards models assessed consistency of treatment effect across subgroups. Safety evaluations included kidney-related adverse events. At baseline, 244 (10.5%) and 462 (9.9%) patients had HF in the placebo and empagliflozin groups, respectively. Overall, the incidence of kidney outcome events was numerically higher in patients with than without HF. In the HF group, empagliflozin reduced risk of incident or worsening nephropathy or cardiovascular death by 43% (hazard ratio, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.42-0.77]) and progression to macroalbuminuria by 50% (hazard ratio, 0.50 [0.33-0.75]). After an initial transient decrease, estimated glomerular filtration rate stabilized over time with empagliflozin but gradually declined with placebo. Kidney effects in patients with HF were consistent with those in the overall study population (all P values for interaction >0.05). Across groups, the incidence rate of kidney-related adverse events/100 patient-years was higher in patients with than without HF; however, overall rates were comparable between groups. Conclusions These findings from EMPA-REG OUTCOME support the hypothesis that empagliflozin could reduce the risk of clinically relevant kidney events and may slow progression of chronic kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus regardless of HF status. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01131676.