Journal article
Renal outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes with and without albuminuria treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists: target trial emulation
BMJ. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.), Vol.394, e100574
09/16/2026
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2026-100574
PMID: 42778221
Abstract
To compare the risk of renal deterioration under treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists or sodium-glucose contransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors versus other second line treatments in people with type 2 diabetes with and without albuminuria (albumin to creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g).
Target trial emulation.
Linkage of electronic health records and claims data from 10 health systems and two national health insurance plans-data from BESTMED (observational evaluation of second line therapy medications in diabetes) study.
People with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk and estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m
on metformin monotherapy who started treatment with a GLP-1 receptor agonist or SGLT-2 inhibitor, a sulfonylurea, or a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor after metformin between 2014 and 2022.
Deterioration of kidney function defined as doubling of serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate <15 mL/min/1.73 m
.
Among 75 455 eligible people (61 583 (81.76%) without albuminuria), median age was 60 years (interquartile range 51-68), 36 231 (48%) were women, median haemoglobin A
was 7.8% (interquartile range 7.3-8.5%), and median estimated glomerular filtration rate was 92 mL/min/1.73 m
(interquartile range 77-102). People were followed for a median of 32 months (interquartile range 18-57). The estimated five year risk of the renal outcome was 2.4% (95% confidence interval 2.1% to 2.7%) for people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT-2 inhibitors versus 2.1% (1.8% to 2.6%) for people taking DPP-4 inhibitors among those without albuminuria; and 3.2% (2.3% to 4.1%) versus 5.4% (4.2% to 6.7%), respectively, among people with albuminuria. The estimated five year risk ratio comparing the GLP-1 receptor agonist or SGLT-2 inhibitor group with the DPP-4 inhibitor group was 1.10 (95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.38) among people without albuminuria and 0.60 (0.42 to 0.82) among people with albuminuria.
Compared with DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of deterioration of renal function in people with albuminuria. Little evidence of renal benefit among people without albuminuria was observed over the study follow-up period.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Renal outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes with and without albuminuria treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists: target trial emulation
- Creators
- Alexander Turchin - Brigham and Women's HospitalLucia C Petito - Northwestern UniversityEmma Hegermiller - Indus Consulting, Inc, Chicago, IL, USAIndhumathy Chelliah - Indus Consulting, Inc, Chicago, IL, USARyan M Carnahan - University of IowaAndrea DeVries - Humana (United States)Satyender Goel - Northwestern UniversityM Cecilia Lansang - Cleveland ClinicMarie E McDonnell - Harvard UniversityVinit Nair - Indus Consulting, Inc, Chicago, IL, USAElisa Priest - Baylor Scott & White Research InstituteVincent J Willey - Carelon Research, Wilmington, DE, USAAlan F Kaul - Medical Outcomes Management, Inc, Sharon, MA, USAMiguel A Hernán - Harvard UniversityBESTMED collaborating investigators
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- BMJ. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.), Vol.394, e100574
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmj-2026-100574
- PMID
- 42778221
- NLM abbreviation
- BMJ
- ISSN
- 1756-1833
- eISSN
- 1756-1833
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/16/2026
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985236350102771
Metrics
1 Record Views