Study Links DCCBs to 33% Higher Kidney Event Risk in 31,031 DKD Patients
Updated
Updated · DocWire News · Jun 5
Study Links DCCBs to 33% Higher Kidney Event Risk in 31,031 DKD Patients
3 articles · Updated · DocWire News · Jun 5
Summary
31,031 adults with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease showed a 33% higher risk of major adverse kidney events when treated with dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers, researchers reported at the 2026 ERA Congress.
39.2% of the cohort received DCCBs on top of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors, and the elevated risk persisted over a median 3.5-year follow-up despite those standard kidney-protective therapies.
Major adverse kidney events were defined as at least a 40% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate or progression to end-stage kidney disease.
Investigators said DCCBs may raise intraglomerular pressure by dilating vessels entering the kidney's filtering units more than those carrying blood away, potentially sustaining kidney injury.
Because the study was observational and cannot prove causation, the authors called for randomized trials to determine the best blood-pressure treatment strategy for DKD patients.