Supplementary Material for: The impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on dementia onset in patients with type 2 diabetes - A meta-analysis of cohort studies

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated neuroprotective effects and hold potential advantages in enhancing cognitive function. This study aims to clarify the association between SGLT2 inhibitors and the risk of dementia among individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Methods: All cohort studies concerning the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on dementia onset in patients with T2D were identified. The literature search encompassed PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from establishment to Mar 2024, with no language restriction. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.4 software, calculating pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes.
Results: Five cohort studies encompassing a total of 331908 patients were included in the analysis. The findings showed that individuals receiving SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk of dementia (I2 = 42%, P = 0.14; RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.71-0.84) compared to the control group. Subgroup analyses confirmed the consistent beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors across different study regions (I2=0%, P=0.60) and genders (I2=0%, P=0.50).
Conclusions: SGLT2 inhibitors may reduce the dementia risk in T2D patients. Given the limitations of the study, further investigations were warranted to confirm the benefits.