Diabetes, obesity & metabolismJun 6, 2022

How new diabetes drugs compare in protecting the heart and kidneys of patients with diabetic kidney disease

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 28, 2026

Abstract

SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of a kidney-specific composite outcome by 26% compared to GLP-1RAs and by 36% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.

SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with a significant reduction in (MACE) by 18% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.
GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) also reduce the risk of MACE by 18% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.
The risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) was significantly reduced by 28% with SGLT2 inhibitors compared to GLP-1RAs.
SGLT2 inhibitors lowered the risk of HHF by 41% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.
These findings support the use of SGLT2 inhibitors as a preferred treatment option for patients with .

Simplified

AIMS: To conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis to determine the comparative effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors in patients with (DKD).

METHODS: Phase III or IV randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluating SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1RAs or DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with DKD were identified from the MEDLINE database. The outcomes of interest were a kidney-specific composite outcome, kidney disease progression, (MACE), hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) and cardiovascular death. A network meta-analysis was conducted to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Sixteen trials representing a total of 46 292 patients were included. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of the kidney-specific composite outcome by 26% compared to GLP-1RAs (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.88) and by 36% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.52-0.79). The risk of MACE was significantly reduced with SGLT2 inhibitors (by 18%; HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.93), and with GLP-1RAs (by 18%; HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.96), compared to DPP-4 inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of HHF by 28% compared to GLP-1RAs (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56-0.92) and by 41% compared to DPP-4 inhibitors (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.49-0.71).

CONCLUSIONS: A clear advantage was demonstrated by SGLT2 inhibitors in reducing the risks of CV and renal events in patients with DKD, compared to GLP-1RAs and DPP-4 inhibitors. We recommend that SGLT2 inhibitors be considered the treatment of choice in patients with DKD.

Key numbers

26%

Reduction in Kidney-Specific Composite Outcome

SGLT2 inhibitors vs. GLP-1RAs

17%

Reduction in

SGLT2 inhibitors vs. placebo

36%

Reduction in Hospitalization for Heart Failure

SGLT2 inhibitors vs. placebo

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How new diabetes drugs compare in protecting the heart and kidneys of patients with diabetic kidney disease

Abstract

Key numbers

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