Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors have revolutionized the management of chronic kidney disease. However, long-term data regarding their use are lacking. The post-trial follow-up study to EMPA-KIDNEY provides several insights into how the effects of these powerful medications might be optimized, but several key questions remain unanswered.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$189.00 per year
only $15.75 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Rossing, P. et al. Executive summary of the KDIGO 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease: an update based on rapidly emerging new evidence. Kidney Int. 102, 990–999 (2022).
Perkovic, V. et al. Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy. N. Engl. J. Med. 380, 2295–2306 (2019).
Heerspink, H. J. L. et al. Dapagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease. N. Engl. J. Med. 383, 1436–1446 (2020).
Herrington, W. G. et al. Empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease. N. Engl. J. Med. 388, 117–127 (2023).
The EMPA-KIDNEY Collaborative Group. Long-term effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease. N. Engl. J. Med. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2409183 (2024).
United States Renal Data System. 2021 Annual Data Report. NIH https://usrds-adr.niddk.nih.gov/2021 (2021).
Lamprea-Montealegre, J. A. et al. Prescription patterns of cardiovascular- and kidney-protective therapies among patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Diabetes Care 45, 2900–2906 (2022).
Malik, M. E. et al. Discontinuation and reinitiation of SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1R agonists in patients with type 2 diabetes: a nationwide study from 2013 to 2021. Lancet Reg. Health Eur. 29, 100617 (2023).
United States Renal Data System. Healthcare expenditures for persons with CKD. NIH https://usrds-adr.niddk.nih.gov/2024/chronic-kidney-disease/6-healthcare-expenditures-for-persons-with-ckd (2024).
Herrington, W., Staplin, N., Agrawal, N. & Haynes, R. Long-term effects of empagliflozin in CKD (abstract FR-OR103). ASN Kidney Week, https://www.asn-online.org/education/kidneyweek/2024/program-abstract.aspx?controlId=4166148 (2024).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
C.P. has been on advisory boards and given lectures for Boehringer Ingelheim, Astra Zeneca and Janssen Cilag on the topic of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. L.H. declares no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heath, L., Pollock, C. Long-term lessons from EMPA-KIDNEY. Nat Rev Nephrol 21, 222–223 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00921-2
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00921-2