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Background Early reduction in albuminuria with an SGLT2 (sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitor may be a positive indicator of long‐term cardiovascular and renal benefits. We assessed changes in albuminuria during the first 12 weeks of treatment and subsequent long‐term cardiovascular and renal risks associated with the SGLT2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, in the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME (Empagliflozin Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 diabetes Mellitus Patients) trial. Methods and Results We calculated the percentage urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) change from baseline to week 12 in 6820 participants who did not experience a cardiovascular outcome (including 3‐point major cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure) or renal outcome (defined as 40% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline, estimated glomerular filtration rate 30% reduction in UACR (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.27–1.58; P <0.001). During 3.0 years of follow‐up, 704 major cardiovascular events, 440 cardiovascular deaths/hospitalizations for heart failure, and 168 renal outcomes were observed. Each 30% decrease in UACR during the first 12 weeks was statistically significantly associated with a lower hazard for major cardiovascular events (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93–0.99; P =0.012), cardiovascular deaths/hospitalizations for heart failure (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91–0.98; P =0.003), and renal outcomes (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78–0.89; P <0.001). Conclusions Short‐term reduction in UACR was more common with empagliflozin and was statistically significantly associated with a decreased risk of long‐term cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01131676.
Waijer et al. (Sun,) studied this question.