Kidney International Reports (Mar 2022)

The Kidney Protective Effects of the Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor, Dapagliflozin, Are Present in Patients With CKD Treated With Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists

  • Michele Provenzano,
  • Niels Jongs,
  • Priya Vart,
  • Bergur V. Stefánsson,
  • Glenn M. Chertow,
  • Anna Maria Langkilde,
  • John J.V. McMurray,
  • Ricardo Correa-Rotter,
  • Peter Rossing,
  • C. David Sjöström,
  • Robert D. Toto,
  • David C. Wheeler,
  • Hiddo J.L. Heerspink

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 3
pp. 436 – 443

Abstract

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Introduction: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We performed an analysis of the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease (DAPA-CKD) trial by baseline conventional MRA (spironolactone and eplerenone) prescription. Methods: Participants with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 25–75 ml/min per 1.73 m2; urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio 200–500 mg/g), with or without type 2 diabetes, were randomized 1:1 to dapagliflozin 10 mg or placebo, once daily. The primary outcome was a composite of sustained ≥50% eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, or kidney or cardiovascular (CV) death. A prespecified kidney-specific secondary outcome was as the primary outcome but without CV death. Hyperkalemia (serum potassium ≥6.0 mmol/l) was an exploratory end point. Time-to-event analyses (proportional hazards [Cox] regression) assessed dapagliflozin versus placebo in patient subgroups defined by baseline conventional MRA use. Results: A total of 229 of 4304 DAPA-CKD participants (5.3%) were receiving conventional MRAs at baseline (dapagliflozin n = 109, placebo n = 120). The effect of dapagliflozin on the primary outcome was consistent in participants prescribed (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76, 95% CI 0.40–1.47) and not prescribed (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.50–0.72, P-interaction = 0.59) MRAs. This consistency was maintained for the kidney-specific outcome. The effect of dapagliflozin on hyperkalemia (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.70–1.09) was consistent among those prescribed (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.41–2.20) and not prescribed (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.69–1.10, P-interaction = 0.96) MRAs. Adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation and serious AEs were similar between treatment groups, regardless of baseline MRA prescription. Conclusion: Dapagliflozin was similarly safe and efficacious in reducing major adverse kidney outcomes in participants with CKD who were or were not prescribed MRAs at baseline.

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