As research indicates, GLP-1 receptor agonists are those antidiabetic drugs designed with the primary intention of tackling the type 2 diabetes patient, but can help an individual who suffers from Chronic Kidney disease. Currently approved in the European Union, there are already drugs like the broadly recognized Ozempic or Wegovy that reduce appetite while enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretions. However, the evidence seems to rise for using them to address a range of other health issues including kidney disease.
A new study published in Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology analyzed data from 11 clinical trials involving more than 85,000 participants. The results showed that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced the risk of kidney failure by 16% compared to placebo treatments, irrespective of whether the patients had diabetes. The drugs also decreased the risk of kidney function deterioration, kidney-related death, and overall mortality from kidney disease by 18%.
The study indicates that GLP-1 agonists have much more extensive therapeutic benefits, as evidenced by a 13% risk reduction in cardiovascular-related events, including heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease. Findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists will be an important part of the treatment of both kidney and heart health, especially for chronic disease patients.
According to Dr. Sunil Badve, lead author of the study and a nephrologist at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), these findings are important for patients with CKD, a progressive condition that affects more than 100 million people in Europe alone. As the kidneys progressively lose function, patients often require dialysis or a transplant, and they are at heightened risk for cardiovascular events. Dr. Badve reported that GLP-1 receptor agonists may indeed slow the progression of kidney disease by targeting some of the key cardiovascular risk factors.
According to one of the study’s co-authors, Dr. Vlado Perkovic, provost at UNSW Sydney, the best next step is to make such drugs more accessible to patients likely to benefit from them. The translation process is now being initiated to work towards making these findings available at the clinical level so that, hopefully, more patients are treated for kidney and heart diseases with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
This research might become a step closer in treating chronic kidney diseases with greater hope and promising recovery to millions of patients.
