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Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with and without type 2 diabetes: a prespecified analysis of the DARE-19 randomized trial

Abdel Jawad M, Furtado RHM, Esterline R, Oscarsson J, Gasparyan SB, Koch GG, Martinez F, Mukhtar O et al.

Cardiovascular diabetology, 2025

1,250 participants

Abstract

Background: Although several previous studies tested SGLT2 inhibitors in the setting of an acute, non-cardiovascular illness, detailed information on their efficacy and safety among participants with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) from double-blind randomized trials is lacking. In this secondary prespecified analysis of the Dapagliflozin in Respiratory Failure in Patients with COVID-19 (DARE-19) trial, we sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of initiating dapagliflozin during acute illness with COVID-19 in patients with and without T2D.

Methods: The DARE-19 trial randomized 1250 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and cardiometabolic risk factors to dapagliflozin or placebo. T2D was present in 636/1250 (50.9%) of the cohort. Dual primary outcomes were evaluated: prevention (time to new or worsened organ dysfunction or death) and a hierarchical composite outcome of recovery (change in clinical status by day 30). Key biomarkers (serum bicarbonate, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], hematocrit, and glucose) and safety were assessed in participants with and without T2D during index hospitalization.

Results: Among patients with T2D, the prevention outcome occurred in 10.9% receiving dapagliflozin versus 13.9% receiving placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76, 95% CI 0.49-1.18). In patients without diabetes, the event rate was 11.5% with dapagliflozin versus 13.3% with placebo (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.55-1.35; interaction p = 0.668). For the primary recovery outcome, no…

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: 1,250 participants or records.

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