Maron, Bradley A

Background SGLT2 (sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in type 2 diabetes. However, no direct comparison of individual SGLT2 inhibitor drugs has been conducted, particularly among adults with moderate cardiovascular risk who comprise most people with type 2 diabetes. Methods We used data for commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare fee‐for‐service beneficiaries to emulate a target trial of adults (≥21 years) with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk who started canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, or empagliflozin between 2015 and 2020. We estimated propensity scores using the super learner ensemble method and incorporated them as inverse probability of treatment weights into Cox models, estimating risk of MACE, expanded MACE, and hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic crises through December 31, 2022. Results The weighted cohort, balanced on all baseline covariates, included 137 232 patients (mean age 65.7 years [SD, 8.1], 75.3% non‐Hispanic White, 57.0% male, 81.9% on metformin, 11.4% on glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists) starting canagliflozin (N=42 877), dapagliflozin (N=17 871), or empagliflozin (N=7648). The risk of MACE was lower among patients starting empagliflozin versus canagliflozin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92 [95% CI, 0.87–0.97]), driven by reduced risk of all‐cause mortality (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.80–0.94]). There was no difference in MACE between empagliflozin versus dapagliflozin or dapagliflozin versus canagliflozin therapy. There was no difference in remaining outcomes between the three drugs. Conclusions The 3 most used SGLT2 inhibitor medications demonstrate similar effectiveness on cardiovascular outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes at moderate cardiovascular risk, with differences between these drugs small in magnitude. Clinicians and health systems should prioritize enhancing access to these cardioprotective therapies.

Background Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) and sodium–glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have favorable cardiovascular outcomes compared with dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP4is) and sulfonylureas in adults with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk. How these benefits vary across lower levels of cardiovascular risk is unknown. Methods We used nationwide claims data to emulate a comparative effectiveness trial and examine the heterogeneity of treatment effects of GLP‐1RAs, SGLT2is, DPP4is, and sulfonylureas on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among adults with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk (annualized MACE risk 1%–5%, estimated using the annualized claims‐based MACE estimator). Results Among 386 276 included adults with type 2 diabetes, 25.2% had baseline ACME–predicted MACE risk >1% to ≤2% (lower‐risk patients) and 13.3% had ACME–predicted risk >4% to ≤5% (higher‐risk patients). By year 3 of treatment, higher‐risk patients derived greater absolute benefit than lower‐risk patients when treated with GLP‐1RAs versus sulfonylureas (absolute reduction in the estimated rate of MACE of 3.1% in higher‐risk patients and 1.6% in lower‐risk patients), SGLT2is versus sulfonylureas (absolute reduction, 3.9% in higher‐risk patients and 1.3% in lower‐risk patients), and GLP‐1RAs versus DPP4is (absolute reduction, 1.6% in higher‐risk patients and 0.5% in lower‐risk patients). The relative benefits for MACE were also greater in higher‐risk than lower‐risk patients with SGLT2is versus DPP4is (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78 [95% CI, 0.70–0.87] in higher‐risk patients; HR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.88–1.12] in lower‐risk patients). Conversely, the relative benefits of DPP4is and GLP‐1RAs versus sulfonylureas were greater in lower‐risk patients: HR 0.76 (95% CI, 0.71–0.81) in lower‐risk and HR 0.91 (95% CI, 0.97–0.96) in higher‐risk patients for DPP4is versus sulfonylureas; HR 0.67 (95% CI, 0.58–0.78) in lower‐risk and HR 0.80 (95% CI, 0.70–0.93) in higher‐risk patients for GLP‐1RAs versus sulfonylurea. Benefits of SGLT2is and GLP‐1RAs were comparable across all risk levels. Conclusions Cardiovascular benefits of SGLT2is and GLP‐1RAs exist across all levels of moderate cardiovascular risk, reinforcing the importance of choosing glucose‐lowering therapies that can prevent MACE in all people with type 2 diabetes.