Association of Empagliflozin Therapy with the Development of Erythrocytosis in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease
| Author | Samaneh Hashemi | en |
| Author | Leila Barahimi | en |
| Author | Mohammad Kogani | en |
| Author | Tina Eghdampanah Foumani | en |
| Author | Ehsan Moradi-Joo | en |
| Orcid | Samaneh Hashemi [0000-0002-7147-5172] | en |
| Orcid | Leila Barahimi [0000-0002-6986-9885] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Kogani [0000-0003-4283-3441] | en |
| Orcid | Tina Eghdampanah Foumani [0000-0001-6162-9724] | en |
| Orcid | Ehsan Moradi-Joo [0000-0001-6375-1475] | en |
| Accessioned Date | 2026-10-26T13:32:36Z | |
| Issued Date | 2026-10-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, is widely used in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition to its established cardiorenal benefits, emerging evidence suggests potential effects on hemoglobin levels and erythrocytosis. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between empagliflozin therapy and erythrocytosis in patients with T2DM and CKD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 300 patients with T2DM and CKD treated at two teaching hospitals between 2023 and 2024. Patients were categorized as empagliflozin users (n = 100) or nonusers (n = 200). Erythrocytosis was assessed after ≥ 6 months of continuous therapy. Unadjusted, age- and sex-adjusted, and fully adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Erythrocytosis occurred in 8 of 100 users (8%) and 5 of 200 nonusers (2.5%). Empagliflozin use was associated with higher odds of erythrocytosis in the unadjusted model (odds ratio [OR] = 3.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 - 22.20; P = 0.161) and the age- and sex-adjusted model (OR = 4.38; 95% CI, 0.66 - 28.90; P = 0.125). In the fully adjusted model, the association remained directionally positive but imprecise (OR = 41.73; 95% CI, 0.11 - 15061.54; P = 0.214). Increasing age was inversely associated with erythrocytosis in the age- and sex-adjusted model (OR = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84 - 0.97; P = 0.012). Conclusions: Empagliflozin therapy was associated with higher point estimates of the odds of erythrocytosis; however, the lack of statistical significance and wide confidence intervals indicate substantial uncertainty. These findings are exploratory and should be interpreted cautiously. Larger prospective studies are needed to clarify this potential association. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjcdc-170932 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjcdc/articles/170932 | en |
| Keyword | Empagliflozin | en |
| Keyword | Erythrocytosis | en |
| Keyword | Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 | en |
| Keyword | Chronic Kidney Disease | en |
| Keyword | Hemoglobins | en |
| Keyword | Hematocrit | en |
| Keyword | Logistic Models | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Association of Empagliflozin Therapy with the Development of Erythrocytosis in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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