SGLT2 inhibitors may lower anemia risk in diabetes patients, study finds

Japan: The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is associated with higher levels of hemoglobin and lower anemia prevalence in real clinical practice, a recent study has found. The study appears in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation. 

SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown to increase hemoglobin levels in short-term clinical trials. However, it is not known whether it is also applicable in real clinical practice. Miho Murashima, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Japan, and colleagues, therefore, aimed to determine whether SGLT2 inhibitors increase hemoglobin levels in real clinical practice in a retrospective cohort study. 

The study included diabetes patients who visited the authors' outpatient clinic from January 2019 to August 2020. Exposure of interest was the use of SGLT2i. Outcomes were hemoglobin levels.

To investigate the association between hemoglobin levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for users and non-users of SGLT2i, non-linear regression models were fitted with restricted cubic splines. For the case-control study, cases (anemia defined as hemoglobin <120 g/L for men, <110 g/L for women or the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents) and controls were matched by age, sex, and eGFR. Among 2063 diabetics, 723 were on SGLT2i. 

The researchers concluded, "The use of SGLT2i was associated with higher hemoglobin levels and lower prevalence of anemia in real clinical practice."

Reference:

The study titled, "Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and anemia among diabetic patients in real clinical practice," was published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation.

DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdi.13717