Initial Decline (Dip) in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate After Initiation of Dapagliflozin in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From DAPA-HF

Background: In a post hoc analysis, the frequency of occurrence of an early decline ("dip") in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after initiation of dapagliflozin, and its association with outcomes, was evaluated in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) randomized in the Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse outcomes in Heart Failure trial.Methods: HFrEF patients with or without type 2 diabetes and an eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73m2 were randomized to placebo or dapagliflozin 10mg daily. The primary outcome was the composite of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death. The extent of the dip in eGFR between baseline and 2 weeks, patient characteristics associated with a >10% decline, and cardiovascular outcomes and eGFR slopes in participants experiencing this decline were investigated. Time-to-event outcomes were assessed in Cox regression from 14 days; eGFR slopes were assessed using repeated measure mixed effect models.Results: The mean change in eGFR between day 0 and 14 was -1.1 ml/min/1.73m2 (95% CI -1.5,-0.7) with placebo and -4.2 ml/min/1.73m2 (-4.6,-3.9) with dapagliflozin, giving a between treatment difference of 3.1 (2.6, 3.7) ml/min/1.73m2. The proportions of patients randomized to dapagliflozin experiencing a >10%, >20% and >30% decline in eGFR were: 38.2%, 12.6%, and 3.4%, respectively; for placebo they were 21.0%, 6.4% and 1.3%, respectively. The odds ratio for a >10% early decline in eGFR with dapagliflozin, compared with placebo, was 2.36 (95%CI 2.07-2.69), P 10% decline in eGFR on dapagliflozin were older age, lower eGFR, higher ejection fraction, and type 2 diabetes. The hazard ratio for the primary outcome in patients in the placebo group experiencing a >10% decline in eGFR, compared with ≤10% decline in eGFR was 1.45 (95% CI 1.19-1.78). The corresponding hazard ratio in the dapagliflozin group was 0.73 (95% CI 0.59-0.91), P-interaction 10% initial decline in eGFR was not associated with greater long-term decline in eGFR or more adverse events.Conclusions: The average dip in eGFR after starting dapagliflozin was small and associated with better clinical outcomes, compared with a similar decline on placebo in patients with HFrEF. Large declines in eGFR were uncommon with dapagliflozin.