Effects of Sodium/Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors and Combined SGLT1/2 Inhibitors on Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Renal, and Safety Outcomes in Patients with Diabetes: A Network Meta-Analysis of 111 Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of anti-hyperglycemic drugs that has been steadily increasing in popularity due to its cardiovascular and renal benefits. Dual SGLT1/SGLT2 (SGLT1/2) inhibitors have potentially augmented anti-hyperglycemic action due to additional SGLT1 inhibition. This network meta-analysis aimed to compare the treatment effect across various outcomes between pure SGLT2 inhibitors and combined SGLT1/2 inhibitors in patients with diabetes.

Methodology: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus) were searched for randomized controlled trials published from inception to 15th January 2022. Frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the treatment effects reported in individual trials, stratified by type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020222031).

Results: Our meta-analysis included 111 articles, comprising a combined cohort of 103,922 patients. SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, ipragliflozin, ertugliflozin, and luseogliflozin) and SGLT1/2 inhibitors (licogliflozin and sotagliflozin) were compared. Frequentist network meta-analysis demonstrated that in T2DM patients, SGLT1/2 inhibitors led to a decreased hazard rate of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.98) and stroke (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47-0.92) compared with SGLT2 inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors achieved a greater hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reduction than SGLT1/2 inhibitors (0.16%, 95% CI 0.06-0.26). In patients with T2DM, the risk of diarrhea (risk ratio [RR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.07-1.88) and severe hypoglycemia (RR 5.89, 95% CI 1.41-24.57) were found to be higher with SGLT1/2 inhibitor use compared with SGLT2 inhibitor use. No differences were observed for cardiovascular, metabolic, and safety outcomes between SGLT1/2 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with T1DM.

Conclusions: In patients with T2DM, compared with pure SGLT2 inhibitors, combined SGLT1/2 inhibitors demonstrated a lower risk of myocardial infarction and of stroke, but were associated with a higher risk of diarrhea and severe hypoglycemia.