George Bakris, MD: Improving SGLT2 Inhibitor Prescribing Practices
George Bakris, MD, discusses an AHA 2020 study that estimated the number of diabetics in the US that were considered eligible for receiving a prescription for an SGLT2 inhibitor.
While groundbreaking trials have cleared the way for new indications for SGLT2 inhibitors, the lack of adoption in prescribing practices since trials like DAPA-HF and EMPEROR-Reduced has become a major talking point related to the class.
New research from the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Scientific Sessions 2020 underlines the impact these agents could have on diabetic populations within the US, with the data suggesting 35% of diabetic individuals had a first-line indication for an SGLT2 inhibitor according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendations.
With an interest in quantifying the proportion of diabetic patients considered guideline eligible for SGLT2 inhibitor prescription, a team of investigators sought to determine the prevalence using data from the 2007-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with survey weight designed to estimate the US population. In total, investigators estimated the prevalence of diabetes among patients 18 years of age or older in the US population to be 21,411,059.
Investigators determined 7,504,508 adults from this cohort had CKD and diabetes, which would make them eligible for an SGLT2 inhibitor prescription. Investigators pointed out the mean age of guidelines eligible individuals was 64.4 years, 51.8% were men, and 48.2% were women.
For more on the results of this study and what can be done to improve prescribing practices of SGLT2 inhibitors, Practical Cardiology sat down with George Bakris, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine and member of Practical Cardiology’s editorial advisory board.
This study, “US Prevalence Estimates of Individuals With Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease Indicated for SGLT-2 Inhibitor Initiation,” was presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2020.
