TOPLINE:
in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
METHODOLOGY:
- A meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials compared the effects of tirzepatide and control treatment (placebo or any active comparator) on albuminuria levels and renal function in patients with T2D.
- The pooled data included 6226 patients with T2D who received tirzepatide (5, 10, or 15 mg) and 3307 participants in the control group who received placebo, semaglutide, or insulin.
- The primary outcome was the difference in absolute change in urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline between the tirzepatide and control groups.
- The secondary efficacy endpoint was the comparative change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between the two groups.
TAKEAWAY:
- Overall, tirzepatide reduced UACR by ~27% (mean difference [MD], −26.9%; P < .001) compared with controls.
- The reduction in UACR was consistent across all tirzepatide doses (5 mg: MD, −23.12%; 10 mg: MD, −27.87%; 15 mg: MD, −27.15).
- Benefits of tirzepatide were even more pronounced in patients with increased albuminuria levels (UACR ≥ 30 mg/g) at baseline (MD, −41.42%; P < .001) than in controls.
- However, tirzepatide vs control treatment did not have a significant effect on eGFR levels (P = .46), which indicated no negative effect of tirzepatide on renal function.
IN PRACTICE:
“Tirzepatide seems to be a ‘rising star’ for the prevention and delaying of chronic kidney disease and related, surrogate renal outcomes in patients with T2DM,” the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
Paschalis Karakasis, MD, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, led this study, which was published online December 20, 2023, in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
LIMITATIONS:
There was significant heterogeneity between the studies. Bias may have come from the open-label design in the included randomized controlled trials. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the effect of tirzepatide on chronic kidney disease pathogenesis are speculative.
DISCLOSURES:
The paper did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.