Project Title

Combination of cardioprotective glucose-lowering and lipid-lowering drugs in type 2 diabetes 

Background

Drugs targeting traditional risk factors such as hyperlipidemia have been the principal focus to prevent cardiovascular and kidney diseases in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, two new classes of glucose-lowering drugs have likewise been shown to reduce risk of these diseases. The importance of combining cardioprotective glucose-lowering drugs and statins in a real-world setting is unknown. 

Aim

We will explore whether use of a cardioprotective glucose-lowering drug, either sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, in combination with lipid-lowering statin, is associated with the lowest risk of developing cardiovascular and kidney diseases in people with type 2 diabetes in the general population.

Methods/design

To investigate these aims, the study will use three large population-based cohorts: The entire Danish population, with access to prescription and outcome data in Danish registers, and the UK Biobank and Copenhagen General Population studies, with individual level health information and blood sample data on ~500.000 and ~120.000 participants, respectively.