Diabetes Drugs SGLT2i and GLP-1 RAs may Reduce Risk of Pneumonia and Sepsis, finds research
Researchers have discovered that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), often used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), are associated with a decreased risk of developing pneumonia and severe sepsis. A recent study was conducted by Alex H. and colleagues which was published in the journal BMJ Thorax.
These drugs are already known for their ability to protect the heart and kidneys and regulate glucose. They may also contribute to significant protection against serious infections. A retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymized electronic medical records to examine this association, finding important reductions in incident pneumonia and severe sepsis among patients treated with SGLT2i or GLP-1 RAs compared with those treated with DPP-4i.
This study used a retrospective cohort design, drawing on the global TriNetX database, which contains electronic medical records. Two separate intention-to-treat analyses were conducted: Eligible patients were adults diagnosed with T2D who were new users of these medications. Propensity score matching (1:1) controlled for possible confounders, ensuring that baseline characteristics were balanced between groups. The main outcomes measured included time-to-incident pneumonia and severe sepsis within a 12-month follow-up period. Secondary analyses compared the effects of SGLT2i and GLP-1 RAs with other glucose-lowering therapies.
Results
SGLT2i Cohort:
Total patients after matching: 352,687
Incident pneumonia risk reduction: Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.75 (95% CI 0.73–0.78)
Severe sepsis risk reduction: HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.73–0.77)
GLP-1 RA Cohort:
Total patients after matching: 331,863
Incident pneumonia risk reduction: HR 0.60 (95% CI 0.58–0.62)
Severe sepsis risk reduction: HR 0.61 (95% CI 0.59–0.63)
Both drug classes demonstrated a significant protective effect against pneumonia and sepsis compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.
SGLT2i and GLP-1 RAs have been associated with reduced risks of pneumonia and severe sepsis among T2D patients. All this further adds to established benefits and points out their use as potential agents in lowering the infection-related complications for further clinical exploration.
Reference:
Henney, A. E., Riley, D. R., Hydes, T. J., Anson, M., Ibarburu, G. H., Frost, F., Alam, U., & Cuthbertson, D. J. (2024). Comparative estimate of glucose-lowering therapies on risk of incident pneumonia and severe sepsis: an analysis of real-world cohort data. Thorax, thorax-2024-221906. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2024-221906
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