SGLT2 Inhibitors Linked to Lower Mortality in Elderly
A study presented at Kidney Week found the diabetes drug class was associated with reduced deaths among adults aged 80 and older with chronic kidney disease.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Diabetes
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Researchers presented findings at Kidney Week in Denver showing SGLT2 inhibitor users aged 80 and older with chronic kidney disease had significantly reduced mortality after two years of follow-up. The analysis covered 23,765 users and nonusers.
Why it matters
Very elderly adults are often underrepresented in large randomized controlled trials because of multimorbidity and frailty, so real-world data like these help fill evidence gaps for this population. The results were consistent across all predefined subgroups.
The analysis, drawn from 23,765 adults aged 80 and older, found an adjusted mortality hazard ratio of 0.734 for SGLT2 inhibitor users compared with nonusers after two years. Adjusted hazard ratios were also 0.884 for major adverse cardiovascular events and 0.775 for major adverse kidney events.
The players
Kidney Week
Kidney Week is the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology, a major international forum for kidney disease research and clinical practice.
TriNetX
TriNetX is a global health research network and database that provides real-world patient data used in clinical and epidemiological studies.
The details
Researchers from Hannover Medical School in Germany used propensity score matching to adjust for comorbidities, laboratory parameters and frailty-associated factors, drawing data from the TriNetX database. The mortality benefit was similar across all predefined subgroups.
Timeline
The Kidney Week meeting took place October 21 to 25, 2026, in Denver.
Mortality outcomes were measured over a two-year follow-up period.
Big Picture
Very elderly patients have long been excluded from large randomized controlled trials because of multimorbidity and frailty, leaving clinicians to extrapolate from younger populations. This real-world analysis offers an alternative evidence source for an age group that trials have largely overlooked.
For older adults with chronic kidney disease, these findings suggest SGLT2 inhibitors may be worth discussing with a clinician as part of a broader treatment plan. Patients should not change medications without medical advice, as the study is observational.
The takeaway
Real-world data can complement trial evidence for populations that clinical trials often exclude. Older adults and their caregivers should review kidney and cardiovascular treatment options with a healthcare provider.
Further reading
Explore more on Diabetes and how these medications are being studied across age groups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Healthday.
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