The efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeIn recent years, increasing evidence has shown that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) drugs have potential renoprotective effects in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the renal protective effect of SGLT2i in non-diabetic nephropathy patients has not been extensively demonstrated. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the renal protective effect and safety of SGLT2i in non-diabetic nephropathy patients.Methodswe searched for relevant clinically randomised controlled trials and analyzed the effects of SGLT2i on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the incidence of adverse events in patients with non-diabetic nephropathy.ResultsWe collated and analysed clinical data from six groups of patients with nondiabetic nephropathy. It was found that the SGLT2i significantly delayed the decline in eGFR [MD = 1.35 ml/min/1.73 m(2), 95% CI 0.84, 1.86), P < 0.0001]. Furthermore, the SGLT2i significantly reduced UACR [MD = - 24.47% l, 95% CI (- 38.9, -10.04), P = 0.0009], and showed a greater decrease in SBP [MD = - 4.13 mmHg, 95% CI (- 7.49, - 0.77), P = 0.02]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between dapagliflozin/empagliflozin and the control group [OR = 1.14, 95% CI (0.88, 1.47), P = 0.33].ConclusionThis study shows that SGLT2i help to delay the progression of non-diabetic kidney disease. Therefore, SGLT2i may contribute to the general treatment of nondiabetic nephropathy.