A few patients who are administered sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) for the first time often show an increase in their body weight and/or blood glucose levels. In this study, we used an electronic medical record database to identify the factors that affect blood glucose levels and body weight after the administration of SGLT2i. We investigated 1,663 patients who had been prescribed SGLT2i for the first time in a Korean hospital between December 2014 and December 2016. Based on the HbA1c levels measured 3 months following administration of SGLT2i, we observed that the blood glucose levels were significantly lowered in women or in elderly patients (all p < 0.05). In patients who showed an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 90 mg/dL (from 8.3% to 7.4%, p<0.001) and those with an eGFR of 60-90 mg/dL (from 7.9% to 7.2%, p<0.001), the HbA1c was observed to demonstrate a significant drop. However, in patients with an eGFR ≤ 60 mg/dL, the HbA1c tended to demonstrate a marginal rise slightly (from 8.1% to 8.5%, p<0.001). A similar pattern of changes was observed with regard to patients’ weight. Significant weight loss and improvement in blood glucose levels were observed in those with a baseline HbA1c level ≥ 9.0%. However, the weight loss observed was relatively less significant in those with a baseline HbA1c level of 7.0-8.0% and 8.0-9.0%. We conclude that the reduction in blood glucose levels and the weight loss induced by SGLT2i appear to be strongly influenced by/associated with gender, age, and eGFR. While large-scale clinical studies are needed in the future, it seems worthwhile to check the clinical condition of SGLT2i-prescribed patients in advance and expect changes in weight and blood sugar reduction. Although large-scale clinical studies are needed in the future to conclusively corroborate our results, it is recommended that patients administered SGLT2i be monitored closely for weight changes and improvements in blood sugar levels.
H. Kim: None. E. Lee: None. K. Yoon: None.
