- SGLT-2 inhibitor use was associated with an 11% lower risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases compared with sulfonylureas in adults with type 2 diabetes.
- The risk reduction was primarily due to fewer cases of inflammatory arthritis (hazard ratio, 0.86), while connective tissue disease risk remained unchanged.
- Results were consistent across subgroups and confirmed through sensitivity analyses, including intention-to-treat and propensity score matching models.
- The findings support potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of SGLT-2 inhibitors beyond glucose lowering.
- SGLT-2 inhibitors may offer added systemic benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes, though randomized trials are needed to confirm causality.
Source: The BMJ
