How treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors can help people with chronic kidney disease: a plain language summary

<b>What is this summary about?</b> This is a summary of an article originally published in Postgraduate Medicine. The article looked at a group of medicines called sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors that can be used to treat people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). SGLT2 inhibitors were first used to treat people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Further research has shown that these medicines can also help to protect the kidneys and the heart in people with CKD, regardless of whether they also have T2D. This article describes how SGLT2 inhibitors can affect the body and the benefits of these medicines in people with CKD. <b>What are the key takeaways?</b> CKD is a serious health problem that affects at least 1 in 7 adults in the United States. However, around 9 out of 10 adults with CKD are not aware that they have the condition. This is because people with CKD often have no symptoms, especially in the early stages of their condition. People with CKD have a higher risk of death and heart and/or kidney complications compared with people without the condition. It is important that doctors diagnose CKD as early as possible so they can advise people about lifestyle changes and treatments that help to slow the progression of their CKD. Early diagnosis and intervention can reduce the chance that someone with CKD will die prematurely, be admitted to the hospital, or eventually need dialysis or a kidney transplant. <b>What were the main conclusions reported by the author?</b> SGLT2 inhibitors can help to slow the decline in kidney function and lower the risk of death and hospitalizations in people with CKD. Research has shown that a wide range of people with CKD could benefit from treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors.