United States: New medical research indicates GLP1-RA drugs which typically treat diabetes and weight problems including Ozempic as well as Wegovy and Saxenda and Trulicity show promising effects in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Medical researchers established that these drugs demonstrated better results than DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4is) in both slowing kidney disease progression and decreasing hospitalizations and increasing survival rates, as reported by HealthDay.
Study Highlights: GLP1-RAs vs. Standard Kidney Medications
The research, led by Dr. Shuyao Zhang at UT Southwestern in Dallas, tracked 64,705 veterans with diabetes and CKD over two years. Patients taking GLP1-RA medications experienced:
- 16% lower mortality rates
- 10% fewer hospitalizations
- 36% slower kidney disease progression
This significant improvement over DPP4i medications suggests that GLP1-RAs could reshape treatment guidelines for diabetic kidney disease.
Dr. Ildiko Lingvay who co-authored the study stated that patients with both diabetes and chronic kidney disease have elevated vulnerability to infection along with blood sugar fluctuations and heart issues.
Medical research trials frequently exclude this patient population so they remain ineligible for beneficial treatments.
The research indicates that GLP1-RAs simultaneously preserve kidney function and decrease cardiovascular events while decreasing healthcare expenses thus serving as an effective treatment for high-risk patients.
Could This Lead to New Treatment Guidelines?
Managing diabetic kidney disease has long been a challenge, but GLP1-RAs could become a standard part of kidney care with further research, as reported by HealthDay.
“With continued studies, we may see new guidelines that incorporate GLP1-RAs as part of a comprehensive approach to treating diabetes-related kidney disease,” said Dr. Zhang. “This could greatly improve long-term outcomes and enhance patients’ quality of life.”