Lung Cancer Risk in Type 2 Diabetes With COPD: SGLT2 Inhibitors vs. Sulfonylureas

NCT ID: NCT07332156

Last Updated: 2026-01-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 21692 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-12-31

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn if a specific diabetes medicine can lower the risk of lung cancer in people with type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does taking medicines called SGLT2 inhibitors lower the chance of getting lung cancer compared to medicines called sulfonylureas?

Researchers will compare the medical records of people taking SGLT2 inhibitors to those taking sulfonylureas to see if the SGLT2 group has fewer cases of lung cancer.

Participants will not need to visit a doctor or take new medicines for this study. Researchers will use information from existing medical records to answer the research question.

Detailed Description

Study Design: This is a comparative effectiveness research study utilizing large-scale, population-based Real-World Data (RWD). By analyzing longitudinal data from existing medical records, researchers will emulate a target trial to minimize bias and provide robust estimates of the treatment effect.

Statistical Analysis Plan: The study employs a rigorous analytic framework consisting of a primary analysis and multiple sensitivity analyses to ensure the validity of the findings:

Primary Analysis: A comparison of SGLT2 inhibitors versus sulfonylureas using an Intention-To-Treat (ITT) framework, with follow-up censored upon treatment switching to estimate the effect of the initial treatment choice.

Sensitivity Analysis 1 (Active Comparator): A comparison of DPP-4 inhibitors versus SGLT2 inhibitors using the same ITT framework (censoring on switching) to assess the consistency of the results against an alternative second-line antidiabetic class.

Sensitivity Analysis 2 (As-Treated): A comparison of SGLT2 inhibitors versus sulfonylureas using an As-Treated approach, defining continuous use with a permissible gap (grace period) of 60 days between prescriptions to account for adherence patterns.

Significance and Impact Current guidelines for diabetes management prioritize cardiovascular and renal protection. This study aims to expand the clinical evidence base by:

• Providing actionable Real-World Evidence (RWE) on the long-term cancer-related outcomes of diabetes medications.
• Evaluating whether the choice of antidiabetic agents can serve as a strategy for lung cancer prevention in high-risk groups (COPD-T2DM).
• Contributing to the development of comprehensive treatment guidelines that consider cancer prevention alongside metabolic, cardiac, and renal health.

Abbreviation:

COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; DPP-4, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4; ICD-10, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision; ICS, Inhaled Corticosteroids; ITT, Intention-To-Treat; LABA, Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonists; LAMA, Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists; RWD, Real-World Data; RWE, Real-World Evidence; SABA, Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonists; SAMA, Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists; SGLT2, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2; SU, Sulfonylurea; T2DM, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus;

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes; COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease); Lung Cancer (Diagnosis)

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Treatment group (main)

Users of SGLT2 inhibitors (for ITT analysis)

SGLT2 inhibitor

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Active control group (main)

Users of sulfonylureas for ITT analysis

Sulfonylureas (SU)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of sulfonylureas after new onset of T2DM

Treatment group (S1)

Users of SGLT2 inhibitors (for ITT analysis)

SGLT2 inhibitor

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Active control group (S1)

Users of DPP4 inhibitors (for ITT analysis)

Sulfonylureas (SU)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of sulfonylureas after new onset of T2DM

Treatment group (S2)

Users of SGLT2 inhibitors (for as-treated analysis)

SGLT2 inhibitor

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Active control group (S2)

Users of sulfonylureas (for as-treated analysis)

DPP4 inhibitors

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any new prescription of DPP4 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Interventions

SGLT2 inhibitor

Any new prescription of SGLT2 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sulfonylureas (SU)

Any new prescription of sulfonylureas after new onset of T2DM

Intervention Type: DRUG

DPP4 inhibitors

Any new prescription of DPP4 inhibitors after new onset of T2DM

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults aged ≥40 years with prior COPD (from 2009) and newly diagnosed diabetes who initiated SU or SGLT2i between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2023

Exclusion Criteria

• Pre-existing
• ESRD
• Cancer
• Concurrent prescribing of the study drugs at the index date
• Exposure to the drugs of interest during the year preceding the index date
• Death or cancer incidence within a month

In the sensitivity analysis, we are planning to substitute sulfonylurea to DPP4 inhibitors.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Samsung Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Danbee Kang

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Other Identifiers

SU vs. SGLT2 in T2DM with COPD

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id