Effects of Once-Weekly Semaglutide on Kidney Disease Outcomes by KDIGO Risk Category in the SUSTAIN 6 Trial.

INTRODUCTION

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are recommended by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) as risk-based treatment for hyperglycemia, weight management, and cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this analysis was to assess treatment effects of once weekly semaglutide on kidney disease outcomes by KDIGO risk category and on changes in KDIGO risk category, compared with placebo.

METHODS

Participants with T2D and established CV disease or at high CV risk treated with once weekly semaglutide or placebo in SUSTAIN 6 (NCT01720446) were stratified by baseline KDIGO risk category (low [ = 1596], moderate [ = 831], high [ = 445], very high [ = 366]). Treatment effect was analyzed for a kidney disease composite end point (macroalbuminuria, serum creatinine doubling and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 45 ml/min per 1.73 m, kidney replacement therapy, or death due to kidney disease) from baseline to 2 years.

RESULTS

The treatment effect of semaglutide versus placebo was consistent across KDIGO categories for the kidney disease composite end point (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.35 [0.07-1.72], 0.42 [0.25-0.72], 0.87 [0.45-1.71], and 0.72 [0.42-1.23] for low, moderate, high, and very high risk categories, respectively; interaction = 0.28). Participants receiving semaglutide were more likely to move to a lower KDIGO risk category (odds ratio: 1.69; 95% CI: [1.32-2.16]) and less likely to move to a higher KDIGO risk category versus placebo (odds ratio: 0.71; 95% CI: [0.59-0.86]).

CONCLUSION

Once weekly semaglutide versus placebo reduced risks of kidney disease end points and improved risk categories irrespective of baseline KDIGO risk.