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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A widely used class of blood pressure drugs — dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs) — was linked to a 33% higher risk of serious kidney decline in people with type 2 diabetes, even among those already on kidney-protective medications. A study of over 31,000 patients is prompting researchers to rethink whether DCCBs are the safest second-line option for diabetic kidney disease.
A large observational study presented at the European Renal Association Congress is raising red flags about a go-to blood pressure medication for people with type 2 diabetes. Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs) — commonly prescribed as second-line treatment for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) — were associated with a 33% greater risk of major adverse kidney events, even in patients already taking two modern kidney-protective drug classes: RAS inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors.
Researchers believe DCCBs may preferentially dilate the blood vessels feeding the kidney's filtering units, increasing pressure inside them and potentially accelerating the very kidney damage they're meant to help manage. The effect persisted even when accounting for the competing risk of death, suggesting the signal is robust.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: DCCBs are among the most commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs worldwide. If confirmed in randomized trials, these findings could reshape treatment guidelines for the millions of people managing both type 2 diabetes and kidney disease — and push clinicians toward alternatives like thiazide diuretics.
