A study reveals that the kidney and cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin for chronic kidney disease patients diminish about a year after treatment stops, indicating the need for ongoing therapy. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed a 28% reduction in the risk of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death compared to placebo over two years.

A recent study presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2024 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine highlighted the significant benefits of empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The research indicated that the positive effects on kidney function and cardiovascular health begin to diminish approximately one year after treatment discontinuation, underscoring the necessity for ongoing therapy.

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial demonstrated that empagliflozin reduced the risk of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death by 28% compared to a placebo, with a median follow-up of two years and no major safety issues reported. Following the trial, researchers analyzed data from 4,891 participants who underwent an additional two-year observational phase. 

Despite no active trial medication being administered during this post-trial period, many patients continued using SGLT2 inhibitors under clinician supervision. The results showed that 26.2% of those on empagliflozin experienced kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death, compared to 30.3% in the placebo group, indicating a significant, though reduced, efficacy in long-term outcomes. 

(Source:https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/empagliflozin-effects-subside-discontinuation-2024a1000jm9 )