AUTHOR=Lee Yueh-Ting , Hsu Chien-Ning , Fu Chung-Ming , Wang Shih-Wei , Huang Chiang-Chi , Li Lung-Chih 

TITLE=Comparison of Adverse Kidney Outcomes With Empagliflozin and Linagliptin Use in Patients With Type 2 Diabetic Patients in a Real-World Setting

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.781379

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.781379

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=Background: To compare the effects of empagliflozin and linagliptin use on kidney outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in a real-world setting. 
Methods: The study involved a propensity score-matched cohort comprising new users of empagliflozin or linagliptin with T2DM between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018 from a large healthcare delivery system in Taiwan. Clinical outcomes assessed: acute kidney injury (AKI), post-AKI dialysis, and mortality. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the relative risk of empagliflozin or linagliptin use; a linear mixed model was used to compare the average change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over time.
Results: Of the 7042 individuals, 67 of 3521 (1.9%) in the empagliflozin group and 144 of 3521 (4.1%) in the linagliptin group developed AKI during the 2-year follow-up. Patients in the empagliflozin group were at a 40% lower risk of developing AKI compared to those in the linagliptin group (p =0.001). Stratified analysis showed that empagliflozin users ≥ 65 years of age, or with a baseline eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, or with a baseline glycohemoglobin ≦ 7% experienced attenuated benefits with respect to AKI risk. A smaller decline in eGFR was observed in empagliflozin users compared to linagliptin users regardless of AKI occurrence.
Conclusions: Empagliflozin users were at a lower risk of developing AKI and exhibited a smaller eGFR decline than linagliptin users. Thus, empagliflozin may be a safer alternative to linagliptin for T2DM patients.