The increased prevalence of kidney stones globally is a concerning health trend. A recent study conducted by researchers at Mass General Brigham has found a potential link between the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a type of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, and a decreased risk of developing kidney stones.
The study involved analyzing data from three nationwide databases, focusing on 716,406 adults with type 2 diabetes who had started treatment with either SGLT2 inhibitors or two other classes of diabetes medications: GLP1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors.
The results indicated that patients who initiated treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors had a 30% lower risk of developing kidney stones compared to those taking GLP1 agonists and a 25% lower risk than those taking DPP4 inhibitors. Importantly, this association was consistent across different demographic groups, including sex, race/ethnicity, history of chronic kidney disease, and obesity.
Dr. Julie Paik, the corresponding author of the study and affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, highlighted the potential implications of these findings for clinical decision-making, particularly for diabetic patients at risk of kidney stones. The research suggests that the choice of diabetes medication may have an impact on kidney stone risk, with SGLT2 inhibitors potentially offering a protective effect.
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