Prescription patterns and utilization of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and comorbidities in secondary care hospitals

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those with co-morbid type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), now have an important therapeutic option in the form of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Realworld prescription patterns, adherence to clinical guidelines, and the impact of these inhibitors on patient outcomes remain understudied, particularly in secondary care setting, despite their demonstrated efficacy in improving renal and cardiovascular outcomes.
The study was conducted to examine how SGLT2 inhibitors were prescribed and what actual results were observed in patients with chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Data was acquired from the electronic health records (EHRs) of patients who were treated in secondary care hospitals, with a focus on demographic, clinical, and laboratory information. The examination of prescription trends has shown a gradual rise in the utilization of SGLT2 inhibitors among CKD patients with both T2DM and CVD in the last six months.
This increase has been particularly notable after the updated clinical guidelines highlighted their advantages for renal and cardiovascular health. From the data, the majority of patients were found to be prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors in line with the eGFR thresholds advised by present clinical guidelines. Nonetheless, discrepancies were observed in prescription practices, specifically within older populations and individuals with severely impaired renal function. This group tended to opt for alternatives like ACE inhibitors and ARBs more frequently.