Weight loss and diabetes medications may reduce the risk of kidney damage and failure, researchers suggest
Weight loss and diabetes medications should be used by patients with serious kidney problems, researchers suggest.
Products such as Wegovy and Ozempic could reduce the risk of kidney damage and failure by a fifth, a major study has found.
Experts say the findings add to growing evidence that the drugs should be used for conditions other than diabetes and obesity.
This new class of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimics the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, which stimulates insulin production and lowers blood sugar levels.
They have emerged as effective treatments for obesity, slowing digestion, increasing feelings of fullness and reducing hunger, after initially being developed to treat diabetes.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 11 large-scale clinical trials involving 85,373 people. About 67,769 of them had type 2 diabetes and 17,604 were overweight or obese with cardiovascular disease but without diabetes.
Weight loss and diabetes medications should be used by patients with serious kidney problems, researchers suggest (stock image)
Manufacturers such as Wegovy and Ozempic could reduce the risk of kidney damage and failure by a fifth, a major study has found (stock image)
The studies examined seven different GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, dulaglutide (Trulicity), and liraglutide (Victoza).
The results showed they reduced the risk of kidney failure by 16 percent and worsening kidney function by 22 percent compared to a placebo, according to findings published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
The analysis also confirmed previous findings that the drugs protect heart health, with a 14 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attacks and nonfatal strokes.
Death from any cause was 13 percent lower in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Professor Vlado Perkovic from the George Institute, UNSW Sydney, said: ‘This research shows that GLP-1 receptor agonists could play an important role in tackling the global burden of non-communicable diseases.
‘Our study will have a major impact on clinical guidelines for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease in people with and without diabetes.
‘More work is now needed to implement the results of this study into clinical practice and improve access to GLP-1 receptor agonists for people who will benefit from them.’
