Aims:
The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial demonstrated the renoprotective role of the sodium-glucose
co-transporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin by reducing the risk of incident or worsening
nephropathy by 39% vs. placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular
(CV) disease. We investigated the effects of controlling the CV risk factors of blood
pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and glycated haemoglobin
(HbA1c) on treatment differences in kidney outcomes.
Methods:
In EMPA-REG OUTCOME patients were randomised to empagliflozin 10 mg or 25 mg, or placebo.
Risk of incident or worsening nephropathy was assessed in the pooled empagliflozin
group vs. placebo adjusting for control of BP, LDL-C and HbA1c at baseline and during
the study as time-dependent covariates. Control of the various parameters was defined
as systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg, LDL-C< 100 mg/dL, and HbA1c<
7.5%.
Results:
Adjusting for control of BP, LDL-C or HbA1c individually, hazard ratios (HRs) (95%
CI) for time to incident or worsening nephropathy with empagliflozin vs. placebo were
0.67 (0.59, 0.76), 0.61 (0.53, 0.69) and 0.65 (0.57, 0.74), respectively. This is
consistent with findings in the overall trial population. Adjusting for control of
all 3 parameters, the HR (95% CI) was 0.65 (0.57, 0.75).
Conclusion:
Empagliflozin reduced the risk of incident or worsening nephropathy to the same extent
when analyses were adjusted for control of BP, LDL-C and HbA1c over time. These data
suggest that risk reductions in kidney outcomes were preserved, irrespective of control
of conventional CV risk factors.