Practical considerations for the use of SGLT‐2 inhibitors in the Asia–Pacific countries—An expert consensus statement

Abstract

AbstractRecent clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of SGLT‐2 inhibitors in reducing the risks of cardiovascular and renal events in both patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Consequently, many international guidelines have begun advocating for the use of SGLT‐2 inhibitors for the purpose of organ protection rather than as simply a glucose‐lowering agent. However, despite the consistent clinical benefits and available strong guideline recommendations, the utilization of SGLT‐2 inhibitors have been unexpectedly low in many countries, a trend which is much more noticeable in low resource settings. Unfamiliarity with the recent focus in their organ protective role and clinical indications; concerns with potential adverse effects of SGLT‐2 inhibitors, including acute kidney injury, genitourinary infections, euglycemic ketoacidosis; and their safety profile in elderly populations have been identified as deterring factors to their more widespread use. This review serves as a practical guide to clinicians managing patients who could benefit from SGLT‐2 inhibitors treatment and instill greater confidence in the initiation of these drugs, with the aim of optimizing their utilization rates in high‐risk populations.