Type Disparity in Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Incidences of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Propensity-Score-Matched Cohort Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Recently, sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) have been reported to significantly reduce renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk. However, the effect between individual SGLT2Is on RCC incidence in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or heart failure is unclear. We conducted an observational analysis to explore type disparity in the prescription of SGLT2Is on RCC risk. (2) Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Health and Welfare Data Science Center database (2016–2021) was conducted. Patients aged ≥40 years who took SGLT2Is were designated as the SGLT2I group, whereas propensity score 1:1-matched randomly selected patients without SGLT2Is were assigned to the non-SGLT2I group. The primary outcome was the risk of incident RCC between individual SGLT2Is. Multiple Cox regression modeling was conducted to analyze the association between individual SGLT2I use and RCC risk. (3) Results: After a 5.5-year follow-up, SGLT2I use was associated with a significantly lower risk of incident RCC (hazard: 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–0.89). Compared with non-users and after adjusting for the index year, sex, age, comorbidities, concurrent medication, and the risk of developing RCC, the hazard ratios of dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, and empagliflozin were 0.66 (95% CI: 0.53–0.83), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.46–1.30), and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.56–0.90), respectively. (4) Conclusions: Our data show a type-based effect of SGLT2Is on RCC risk. The type-based effect of SGLT2Is should be further studied for better clinical management information and for reducing RCC incidence in patients with T2D.