Study Confirms Improved Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes with MRAs
In a study published in Hypertension, Osaka University researchers have demonstrated an association between the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and an improved renal prognosis in individuals with chronic kidney disease CKD in real-world settings.
As CKD progresses, the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT), which includes dialysis and kidney transplantation, may be necessary for life support in kidney failure. MRAs, which include spironolactone, eplerenone and potassium canrenoate, are commonly used to reduce swelling, blood pressure, and urine protein levels in people with CKD. However, the study was motivated by a lack of information on the link between MRA treatment and the initiation of RRT in a real-world population.
“We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from over 3100 individuals with CKD,” explained lead author Tatsufumi Oka. “We evaluated MRA treatment in various populations of people with CKD, including those with diabetes, heart disease, and severely impaired renal function.”
The research team made use of a marginal structural model to analyse the association between MRA use and the initiation of RRT across multiple patient subgroups.
“Our analysis showed that MRA use was associated with a 28% lower rate of RRT initiation and a 24% lower rate of the combined outcomes of RRT initiation and death,” says senior author Jun-Ya Kaimori.
The researchers found a reduced risk for RRT initiation across various subgroups of people with CKD, including those with and without diabetes and those with severely impaired renal function. These findings highlight the association of MRA use and improved renal outcomes in a real-world population of CKD patients with varying health backgrounds. Overall, the study findings support the use of MRAs in treatment plans for various groups of people with CKD who are not undergoing dialysis.
Source: Osaka University
