Taking medication every day often becomes second nature. Once a treatment is part of a routine, most people rarely stop to wonder whether it could have unexpected long-term effects.
But new research suggests one commonly prescribed blood pressure drug may deserve closer attention for people living with type 2 diabetes, reports ScienceDaily.
According to researchers from the European Renal Association (ERA), who presented their findings at the 63rd ERA Congress, a widely used blood pressure medication has been linked to a higher risk of kidney disease progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.
More than 31,000 patients
The research analysed health data from more than 31,000 adults with type 2 diabetes between 2016 and 2021.
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Every participant was already receiving two standard kidney-protective treatments, but almost 40% were also prescribed dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs), a common second-line therapy for high blood pressure.
After adjusting for differences between the patients, the researchers found that those taking DCCBs faced a 33% higher risk of experiencing serious kidney complications than patients treated with other blood pressure medications.
Why it matters
The team believes the increased risk may be linked to the way DCCBs affect blood flow inside the kidneys.
While the drugs effectively lower blood pressure, they may also increase pressure within the kidneys' tiny filtering units, potentially placing additional strain on an organ already vulnerable to damage from diabetes.
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The study focused on major kidney events, including a significant decline in kidney function or progression to kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.
More research needed
The researchers stress that the findings do not prove the medication directly causes kidney damage. Because the study was observational, it can only identify an association rather than a cause-and-effect relationship.
Even so, the results are attracting attention because DCCBs remain one of the most commonly prescribed blood pressure treatments for people with diabetic kidney disease.
The researchers say larger clinical trials are now needed to determine whether alternative treatment strategies could offer better long-term protection for patients.
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This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.