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Rationale and design of the Renal Lifecycle trial assessing the effect of dapagliflozin on cardiorenal outcomes in severe chronic kidney disease

Bakker WM, Heerspink HJL, Berger SP, Wanner C, Badve SV, Arnott C, Abrahams AC, van den Born JC et al.

Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association, 2025

1,500 participants · 24 citations

Abstract

Background: Several clinical trials have shown beneficial effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on kidney disease progression and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, some subgroups of patients with CKD have been excluded from participation in these trials, such as patients with severely impaired kidney function, patients on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: The Renal Lifecycle trial (NCT05374291) is a pragmatic, international, multicentre, investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial planned to enrol ≈1500 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤25 ml/min/1.73 m2, on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or after a kidney transplant and an eGFR ≤45 ml/min/1.73 m2, who will be randomized 1:1 to receive either dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or matching placebo.

Results: The primary endpoint is a composite of heart failure hospitalization, all-cause mortality or, for those not on dialysis, kidney failure (start of dialysis >1 month, receiving a kidney transplant or death due to kidney failure). The trial is event driven, indicating that it will end after 468 first primary endpoint events have occurred, with a power of 80% and an α of 0.05 to detect a 25% relative risk reduction assuming an annual 12.5% incidence of the primary outcome. The secondary endpoints include a separate analysis of…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 1,500 participants or records.

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