SGLT2 Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis Developing in the Community and During Hospital Admission.

Context Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has been associated with the use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is). Objective To determine the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of DKA in SGLT2i users vs nonusers with type 2 diabetes. Design Retrospective, multicenter, controlled cohort study. Setting All public hospitals in Melbourne and Geelong (combined population of 5 million), Australia, from 1 September 2015 to 31 October 2017. Patients Consecutive cases of DKA that developed in the community, or during the course of hospital admission, in patients with type 2 diabetes Main Outcome Measures In SGLT2i users vs nonusers: (i) OR of DKA developing during hospital admission, and (ii) incidence of DKA. Results There were 162 cases of DKA (37 SGLT2i users and 125 non-SGLT2i users) with a physician-adjudicated diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Of these, DKA developed during the course of inpatient admission in 14 (38%) SGLT2i users vs 2 (2%) non-SGLT2i users (OR, 37.4; 95% CI, 8.0 to 175.9; P Conclusions SGLT2i users were more likely to develop DKA as an inpatient compared with non-SGLT2i users. SGLT2i use was associated with a small but significant increased risk of DKA.