Introduction & Objective: The utilization of Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) in managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) has been associated with an increased risk of developing genital & urinary tract infections (GTI & UTI). This study aims to determine the incidence of UTI and GTI occurring after the use of SGLT-2i in patients with T2D.
Methods: A real-world, cross-sectional study conducted across multiple centers involved the enrollment of patients from both primary & secondary care settings at 42 sites in India. The study focused on individuals diagnosed with T2D who visited the clinic between June 15, 2023 and September 30, 2023. The collected data encompassed demographic information, glycemic parameters, details regarding the use of SGLT2 inhibitors & DPP-4 inhibitors, and information on hygiene practices. For analysis, patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the duration of SGLT-2i use: <6 months, 6-12 months, & >12 months. The association between incidence and duration of SGLT2i groups was tested using Chi-square test.
Results: Out of the total sample of 9,312 patients, 5,469 were males, and 3,843 were females. The sample breakdown based on the duration of SGLTi use revealed that 3,353 patients used it for <6 months, 2,509 for 6-12 months and 3,450 for >12 months. The average age was 55 years. The incidence of UTI varied across the duration groups, with rates of 8%, 5.1%, and 2.7% for <6 months, 6-12 months, and >12 months, respectively. These findings suggest a higher occurrence of UTI in the initial months of SGLT2i drug initiation, followed by a subsequent reduction in incidence with prolonged drug use. Conversely, no significant differences were observed in the occurrence of GTI across the duration groups, with rates of 4.7%, 4.7%, and 4.1% for <6 months, 6-12 months, and >12 months, respectively.
Conclusion: As the duration of SGLT-2i treatment increases, there is a reduction in the incidence of UTI.
A.N. Singh: None. N.K. Singh: None. A. Gupta: None. S.R. Phatak: None.
