Lower risk of gout in sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors in type-2 diabetes

The effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2I) vs dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4I) on the risk of new-onset gout remains unknown. This study aims to compare the effects of SGLT2I against DPP4I on gout risks. This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus treated with SGLT2I or DPP4I between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2020 in Hong Kong. The study outcomes are new-onset gout and all-cause mortality. Propensity score matching (1:1 ratio) between SGLT2I and DPP4I was performed. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis models were conducted. Competing risks models and multiple approaches based on the propensity score were applied. This study included 43201 patients (median age: 63.23 years old [Interquantile range, IQR]: 55.21-71.95, 53.74% males; SGLTI group: n = 16144; DPP4I group: n = 27057) with a median follow-up of 5.59 years (IQR: 5.27-5.81 years) since initial drug exposure. The incidence rate of developing gout (Incidence rate [IR]: 2.5; 95% CI: 2.2-2.9) among SGLT2I users was significantly lower than DPP4I users (IR: 5.2; 95% CI: 4.8-5.8). SGLT2 was associated with 51% lower risks of gout (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.42-0.58; P-value < 0.0001) and 51% lower risks of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.42-0.58; P-value < 0.0001) after adjusting for significant demographics, past comorbidities, medications, and laboratory results. The results remained consistent on competing risk and other propensity score approaches. SGLT2I use was associated with lower risks of new gout diagnosis compared with DPP4I use. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.