<b>OBJECTIVE</b><b></b>
<p>To assess the association between use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2
(SGLT2) inhibitors and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) using data from the National Health
Insurance Service in South Korea.</p>
<p><b>RESEARCH DESIGN AND
METHODS</b><b></b></p>
<p>We used an active comparator, new user
design and nationwide data from 2014 to
2017. Based
on a 1:1 propensity score match, we included 47 369 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 47 369 users of other glucose-lowering
drugs (oGLD). In the matched sample, we used the Cox proportional hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for developing
RVO. Based on the main outcome, exploratory subgroup analyses were undertaken.</p>
<p><b>RESULTS</b></p>
<p>During
the follow-up of 2.57 years, the
incidence
rate of RVO was 2.19 and 1.79 per 1000
person-years in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors and oGLD,
respectively.
The new use of SGLT2 inhibitors was associated with an increased risk of RVO
compared with oGLD use (HR 1.264,
95% CI 1.056–1.513). In the subgroup analyses, a significant
interaction with SGLT2 inhibitors was observed for <em>age and estimated glomerular
filtration rate (eGFR);</em> the HR for RVO was higher in patients aged
≥ 60 years and those with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m<sup>2</sup>
than in others.</p>
<p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b></p>
<p>In
a matched cohort study, we found that SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with a significantly increased risk of RVO. The older patients
and those with chronic kidney disease were at higher risk for RVO. </p>