Renal, Cardiovascular, and Safety Outcomes of Canagliflozin by Baseline Kidney Function: A Secondary Analysis of the CREDENCE Randomized Trial

Abstract

Background: Canagliflozin reduced renal and cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes in the CREDENCE trial. We assessed efficacy and safety of canagliflozin by initial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: CREDENCE randomly assigned 4401 participants with an eGFR of 30 to <90 ml/min per 1.73 m² and substantial albuminuria to canagliflozin 100 mg or placebo. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to analyze effects on renal and cardiovascular efficacy and safety outcomes within screening eGFR subgroups (30 to <45, 45 to <60, and 60 to <90 ml/min per 1.73 m²) and linear mixed effects models to analyze the effects on eGFR slope.

Results: At screening, 1313 (30%), 1279 (29%), and 1809 (41%) participants had an eGFR of 30 to <45, 45 to <60, and 60 to <90 ml/min per 1.73 m², respectively. The relative benefits of canagliflozin for renal and cardiovascular outcomes appeared consistent among eGFR subgroups (all P interaction >0.11). Subgroups with lower eGFRs, who were at greater risk, exhibited larger absolute benefits for renal outcomes. Canagliflozin's lack of effect on serious adverse events, amputations, and fractures appeared consistent among eGFR subgroups. In all subgroups, canagliflozin use led to an acute eGFR drop followed by relative stabilization of eGFR loss. Among those with an eGFR of 30 to <45 ml/min per 1.73 m², canagliflozin led to an initial drop of 2.03 ml/min per 1.73 m². Thereafter, decline in eGFR was slower in the canagliflozin versus placebo group (-1.72 versus -4.33 ml/min per 1.73 m²; between-group difference 2.61 ml/min per 1.73 m²).

Conclusions: Canagliflozin safely reduced the risk of renal and cardiovascular events, with consistent results across eGFR subgroups, including the subgroup initiating treatment with an eGFR of 30 to <45 ml/min per 1.73 m². Absolute benefits for renal outcomes were greatest in subgroups with lower eGFR.

Clinical trial registry name and registration number: Evaluation of the Effects of Canagliflozin on Renal and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Participants With Diabetic Nephropathy (CREDENCE), NCT02065791.

Keywords: SGLT2 inhibitor; canagliflozin; chronic kidney disease; diabetes; end-stage kidney disease.

Graphical abstract

Figure 1.

Canagliflozin reduced renal events in all screening eGFR categories with greater absolute benefits in lower categories. *This outcome was exploratory.

Figure 2.

Canagliflozin reduced cardiovascular outcomes in all screening eGFR categories.

Figure 3.

The effect of canagliflozin on safety outcomes was generally consistent across screening eGFR categories. *Based on confirmed and adjudicated results.

Figure 4.

Canagliflozin led to an acute drop in eGFR which was mildest in those with eGFR 30-<45 ml/min per 1.73 m² at screening, and then to slower eGFR decline in every screening eGFR category. The slope lines cross at the point corresponding to 14.3, 11.2, and 8.7 months for those with initial eGFR of 60 to <90, 45 to <60, and 30 to <45 ml/min per 1.73 m², respectively. The on-treatment eGFR includes all central laboratory eGFR measurements from study day 1 up to the last dose plus 2 days. The change from baseline in eGFR was analyzed using a restricted maximum likelihood repeated measures approach.

Figure 5.

Canagliflozin reduced HbA1c, BP, body weight, and albuminuria compared with placebo in participants across screening eGFR subgroups. Data are placebo-subtracted mean difference (95% CI), except for UACR where it is percentage change in the geometric mean of canagliflozin relative to placebo.