Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors-induced glucosuria in the incidence of urogenital infection on postmenopausal women with diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in postmenopausal women is associated with a high incidence of urogenital infections, which negatively impact the quality of life and increase morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. Glucosuria is a known risk factor for these infections; therefore, it is of interest to determine if increased glucosuria secondary to sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2in) impacts the incidence and severity of urogenital infections in postmenopausal women with T2DM.

METHODS

The study was conducted at Gaffrée Guinle University Hospital on two groups of postmenopausal women with T2DM: with and without SGLT2in therapy (n = 80 in each group). Medical records and laboratory parameters (urinary dipstick test and culture; blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and creatinine; cervical cytologic study) of all subjects were carefully assessed at baseline and thrice during the 12-month study period.

RESULTS

We observed a significant incidence of vulvovaginitis (relative risk [RR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-5.10; = 0.03) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.09-5.60; = 0.03), but not of urinary tract infections (RR, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.74-5.81; = 0.16), secondary to SGLT2in therapy. Genital infection was severe enough to warrant treatment discontinuation in 57.89% of patients in group 1. All urinary tract infections were of mild intensity with a good response to antibiotic therapy.

CONCLUSION

Glucosuria induced by SGLT2in therapy may lead to a high incidence of urogenital infections in postmenopausal women with T2DM and can be considered a risk factor for these infections.