Diabetic nephropathy effectively treated by Dapagliflozin: DAPA-CKD Trial

Diabetes is a chronic disease that is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% percent of new cases. Diabetic nephropathy is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. It's also called diabetic kidney disease. In the United States, about 1 in 3 people living with diabetes have diabetic nephropathy.

The DAPA-CKD trial showed that dapagliflozin results in salutary effects on renal function and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease, irrespective of Diabetes Mellitus status.

Trial published in American College of Cardiology aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of dapagliflozin in reducing renal events among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). 2152 participants were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or 2152 participants in placebo.

The trial stopped early due to benefit and positive results. The primary endpoint, decline in eGFR ≥50%, end-stage kidney disease, death from renal causes, or cardiovascular (CV) death for dapagliflozin vs. placebo, was 9.2% vs. 14.5%. The benefit of dapagliflozin on the primary endpoint was consistent in patients with and without type 2 DM.

The results of this trial indicate that dapagliflozin results in beneficial effects on renal function among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, with or without Diabetes Mellitus, who already on maximal tolerated doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker. There were also beneficial effects noted on non-Cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Results were sustained among patients with or without known cardiovascular disease or Heart Failure at baseline.

Reference: https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2020/08/28/17/07/dapa-ckd