Long-Term Cardiorenal Benefits of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Real-World Single-Center Experience.

Background

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces a high burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. While sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated cardiorenal benefits in clinical trials, real-world evidence on their association with calculated cardiovascular risk in Middle Eastern populations remains limited. This study evaluated the long-term real-world outcomes associated with SGLT2i use in Emirati patients with T2DM.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with T2DM initiated on SGLT2i (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, or canagliflozin) at Tawam Hospital, UAE, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018. Patients were followed for up to 5 years. Primary outcomes included changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and body mass index (BMI). A key secondary outcome was the change in 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, calculated using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations.

Results

We included 185 patients (mean age 57 ± 12 years, 56.2% female), with 107 (57.8%) receiving empagliflozin, 54 (29.2%) dapagliflozin, 11 (5.9%) canagliflozin, and 13 (7.0%) who switched between agents. Significant improvements were observed in HbA1c (8.7 ± 1.8% to 8.2 ± 1.9%, p < 0.001), while eGFR showed preservation of renal function with an annual decline of 1.1 mL/min/1.73 m2. Among 120 patients eligible for ASCVD risk assessment (excluding 65 with established cardiovascular disease), the mean 10-year ASCVD risk decreased from 22.3 ± 5.3% at baseline to 19.3 ± 4.9% at 5 years (absolute reduction -3.0%, 95% CI -2.4 to -3.6%, p < 0.001). Serious adverse events were rare, including acute kidney injury (1.1%) and fractures (1.6%). No episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycemia were observed.

Conclusions

In this real-world cohort from the UAE, SGLT2 inhibitor use was associated with sustained glycemic control, preserved renal function, and lower calculated 10-year cardiovascular risk over 5 years. These observational findings, noted in the context of comprehensive risk factor management, support the potential benefits of SGLT2i in high-risk Middle Eastern patients with T2DM, though prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm causality.