Potential Underlying Mechanisms Explaining the Cardiorenal Benefits of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors

Abstract

There is a bidirectional pathophysiological interaction between the heart and the kidneys, and prolonged physiological stress to the heart and/or the kidneys can cause adverse cardiorenal complications, including but not limited to subclinical cardiomyopathy, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Whilst more common in individuals with Type 2 diabetes, cardiorenal complications also occur in the absence of diabetes. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were initially approved to reduce hyperglycaemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Recently, these agents have been shown to significantly improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with and without Type 2 diabetes, demonstrating a robust reduction in hospitalisation for heart failure and reduced risk of progression of chronic kidney disease, thus gaining approval for use in treatment of heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Numerous potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cardiorenal effects of SGLT2i. This review provides a simplified summary of key potential cardiac and renal mechanisms underlying the cardiorenal benefits of SGT2i and explains these mechanisms in the clinical context. Key mechanisms related to the clinical effects of SGLT2i on the heart and kidneys explained in this publication include their impact on (1) tissue oxygen delivery, hypoxia and resultant ischaemic injury, (2) vascular health and function, (3) substrate utilisation and metabolic health and (4) cardiac remodelling. Knowing the mechanisms responsible for SGLT2i-imparted cardiorenal benefits in the clinical outcomes will help healthcare practitioners to identify more patients that can benefit from the use of SGLT2i.