Dapagliflozin and Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Why clinicians should know about it

• Picked for Surgery (top studies of the week, 2 August 2026): Dapagliflozin reduces AKI incidence post cardiac surgery
• Picked for Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine (paper of the day, 31 July 2026): Randomized trial, AKI prevention after cardiac surgery

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Two percent to 50% of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery experience acute kidney injury (AKI) postoperatively. Medications to prevent AKI after elective cardiac surgery have not been identified. OBJECTIVE: In patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, to evaluate whether initiating dapagliflozin 1 day prior to surgery reduces the incidence of AKI at 7 days after cardiac surgery, compared with placebo. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted at 2 academic medical centers and 5 nonacademic hospitals in the Netherlands. Eligible participants were adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Enrollment occurred between June 8, 2023, and January 27, 2025. Final follow-up occurred May 16, 2025. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either dapagliflozin (10 mg orally; n = 392) or placebo once daily (n = 392), beginning on the day before surgery and continuing through the second postoperative day (total of 4 doses). MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: The primary outcome was the between-group difference in AKI (defined as an increase in serum creatinine level by at least 0.3 mg/dL [26.5 µmol/L] within 48 hours after surgery, a 1.5-fold creatinine increase within 7 days of surgery, or urine output less than 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 to 12 hours according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria) during the first 7 postoperative days. RESULTS: Of 784 participants enrolled, 778 (99%) completed follow-up testing (median age, 68 [61-74] years; 76% male; 97% White; median body mass index, 27 [IQR, 25-30]; and median estimated glomerular filtration rate, 80 [IQR, 67-89] mL/min/1.73 m2). Compared with placebo, dapagliflozin reduced the incidence of AKI (28% vs 52%; relative risk, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.45-0.65]; P < .001) over 7-day follow-up after surgery. Atrial fibrillation and reoperation were the most frequent adverse events. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was 45% (176/392) in the dapagliflozin group vs 45% (176/392) in the placebo group, and the incidence of reoperation was 11% (43/392) vs 10% (39/392), respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, 4 doses of dapagliflozin, beginning the day before surgery, reduced the incidence of AKI during the 7-day postoperative period. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05590143.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.