Digital healthcare systems data could provide insights into the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We designed the CaReMe CKD study to estimate the prevalence, key clinical adverse outcomes and costs of CKD across 11 countries. Individual-level data of a cohort of 2·4 million contemporaneous CKD patients was obtained from digital healthcare systems in participating countries using a pre-specified common protocol; summarized using random effects meta-analysis. CKD and its stages were defined in accordance with current Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. CKD was defined by laboratory values or by a diagnosis code. The pooled prevalence of possible CKD was 10·0% (95% confidence interval 8.5‒11.4; mean pooled age 75, 53% women, 38% diabetes, 60% using renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors). Two out of three CKD patients identified by laboratory criteria did not have a corresponding CKD-specific diagnostic code. Among CKD patients identified by laboratory values, the majority (42%) were in KDIGO stage 3A; and this fraction was fairly consistent across countries. The share with CKD based on urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) alone (KDIGO stages one and two) was 29%, with a substantial heterogeneity between countries. Adverse events were common; 6·5% were hospitalized for CKD or heart failure, and 6·2% died, annually. Costs for renal events and heart failure were consistently higher than costs for atherosclerotic events in CKD patients across all countries. We estimate that CKD is present in one out of ten adults. These individuals experience significant adverse outcomes with associated costs. The prevalence of CKD is underestimated when using diagnostic codes alone. There is considerable public health potential in diagnosing CKD and providing treatments to those currently undiagnosed. The study was sponsored by AstraZeneca.

Almost one third of patients do not achieve type 2 diabetes remission after bariatric surgery or are unable to sustain this effect long term. Our objective was to delve further into the dynamic responses of diabetes after bariatric surgery and to evaluate the “time-within-remission range” as a variable of metabolic control. A descriptive cohort study was done using a computerised multicentre and multidisciplinary registry. All data were adjusted by propensity score. A total of 1186 subjects with a follow-up of 4.5 ± 2.5 years were included. Type of surgery, diabetes remission, recurrence of diabetes, “time-within-remission range” and key predictors of diabetes outcomes were assessed. All patients (70% women, 51.4 ± 9.2 years old, body mass index (BMI) 46.3 ± 6.9 kg/m²) underwent primary bariatric procedures. “Time-within-remission range” were 83.3% (33.3–91.6) after gastric bypass, 68.7% (7.1–87.5) after sleeve gastrectomy and 90% (83.3–92.8) after malabsorptive techniques (p < 0.001 for all). Duration of diabetes, baseline HbA1c and insulin treatment were significantly negatively correlated with the “time-within-remission range”. The association of bariatric techniques with “time-within-remission range”, using gastric bypass as a reference, were: odds ratio (OR) 3.70 (2.34–5.84), p < 0.001 for malabsorptive techniques and OR 0.55 (0.40–0.75), p < 0.001 for sleeve gastrectomy. Characteristics of type 2 diabetes powerfully influence the outcomes of bariatric surgery. The “time-within-remission range” unveils a superiority of gastric bypass compared to sleeve gastrectomy.

Introduction Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are effective for glycemic control, with many also demonstrating cardiovascular (CV) benefit, in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to find a consensus on the barriers and strategies for the optimal use of GLP-1 RAs in people with T2D and high CV risk or established cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Spain. Methods A two-round Delphi survey (53 questions) was conducted among members of four national scientific societies in Spain, including physicians experienced in the management of people with T2D. The degree of consensus was evaluated with a 7-point Likert scale, establishing consensus when ≥ 70% of the panelists agreed (6–7) or disagreed (1–2). Results A total of 97 physicians participated in the first round (endocrinology: 34%, family and community medicine: 21%, internal medicine: 23%, and cardiology: 23%), and 96 in the second round. The main barriers identified were: therapeutic inertia and late use of GLP-1 RAs; lack of a comprehensive approach to CV risk; lack of knowledge on the usefulness of GLP-1 RAs in CVD prevention and treatment; and economic/administrative barriers. Strategies with a highest consensus included: the need to establish simple protocols that integrate awareness of CV risk monitoring; training professionals and patients; and the use of new technologies. Conclusion Physicians identified clinical, healthcare, and economic/administrative barriers that limit the use of GLP-1 RAs in people with T2D and high CV risk or established CVD in Spain, highlighting the importance of integrating these therapies according to clinical practice guidelines.

Although, in randomized clinical trials, once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (OW s.c.) has demonstrated superior efficacy in comparison with placebo and active controls in terms of glycemic control and body weight reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), these results need to be confirmed in a real-world (RW) setting. An RW ambispective study (6 months retrospective and 6 months prospective) was conducted in 10 tertiary hospitals in Spain. We evaluated changes in HbA1c and body weight in patients with T2DM treated with semaglutide OW s.c. Additionally, we analyzed different subgroups of patients treated with semaglutide OW s.c. as an add-on to glucose-lowering therapy. A total of 752 patients with a mean age of 60.2 years, a mean HbA1c level of 8.5%, a mean body weight of 101.6 kg, and a mean T2DM duration of 10 years were included. At 12 months, compared with baseline, there was a mean difference of −2.1% in HbA1c levels (p < 0.001) and a mean difference of 9.2 kg in body weight (p < 0.001). Moreover, there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) between baseline and month 12 in both HbA1c and body weight in the four subgroups receiving semaglutide OW s.c. as an add-on to glucose-lowering therapy. Semaglutide OW s.c. was well tolerated, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most commonly reported side effects. In this RW study, 12 months of treatment with semaglutide OW s.c. in patients with T2DM was associated with significant and clinically relevant improvements in glycemic control and weight loss, regardless of the glucose-lowering therapy received, and the overall safety profile was positive.

Heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are the most frequent first cardiorenal conditions in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), which can be exacerbated by other comorbidities, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. To improve their clinical outcomes, patients with T2D need to achieve and maintain glycemic targets, as well as prevent cardiorenal disease onset and progression. Several clinical trials evaluating the sodium–glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, and ertugliflozin have shown consistent risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events and/or hospitalization for HF, together with lower risk of kidney disease progression. The benefits associated with SGLT2i in T2D are distinct from other antihyperglycemic drugs since they have been proposed to exert pleiotropic metabolic and direct effects on the kidney and the heart. In this review, we summarize and discuss the evidence regarding the mechanisms of action, the efficacy and safety profiles, and the clinical guidelines on the use of the therapeutic class of SGLT2i, highlighting their role in cardiorenal prevention beyond glycemic control.