Exploring the Cardiorenal Benefits of SGLT2i: A Comprehensive Review

The history of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is so long and started in 1835 when Petersen extracted a compound called phlorizin from apple tree bark. About fifty years later, von Mering discovered its glucosuric properties. In the 1980s, it was discovered that the glucosuria resulted from inhibition by phlorizin of glucose reabsorption by the renal tubules, which lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Nowadays, beyond their glucose-lowering effects, growing evidence suggests significant cardiorenal benefits associated with SGLT2i therapy. Indeed, several clinical trials, including landmark studies such as EMPA-REG OUTCOME, CANVAS Program, and DECLARE-TIMI 58, have demonstrated robust reductions in cardiovascular events, particularly heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality, among patients treated with SGLT2i. However, subsequent trials showed that SGLT2i benefits extend beyond the diabetic population, encompassing individuals with and without diabetes. Additionally, SGLT2i exhibit nephroprotective effects, manifesting as a slowing of the progression of chronic kidney disease and a reduction in the risk of end-stage kidney disease. The mechanisms underlying the cardiorenal benefits of SGLT2i are multifactorial and include improvements in glycemic control, reduction in arterial stiffness, modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress, reduction of intraglomerular pression and promotion of natriuresis and diuresis through inhibition of SGLT2 in the luminal brush border of the first segments of the proximal kidney tubule. This narrative review aims to explore the cardiorenal outcomes of SGLT2i, encompassing their mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, safety profile, and implications for clinical practice.