SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of kidney dialysis, transplantation and death from kidney disease by one-third, a landmark Australian-led review has found.

The findings provide the strongest evidence yet that the drugs should be routinely offered to patients with type 2 diabetes at risk of progressive kidney disease, the researchers say.

Study co-author Associate Professor Meg Jardine, from the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, says the meta-analysis of four major SGLT-2 trials, including the kidney outcomes CREDENCE trial published in April, is the first to show an impact on dialysis risk.

“It’s been nearly 20 years since we had anything that made any sort of impact on diabetic kidney disease progression,” she says.