Shillong, August 22: New research suggests that a straightforward blood test could provide insights into the potential for progressive heart and kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
As per IANS, an extensive analysis of a clinical trial encompassing over 2,500 people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease has identified high levels of four specific biomarkers in blood tests as potent predictors for the emergence of heart and kidney complications. This study, featured in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation, offers valuable insights into disease progression and risk assessment.
Lead author James Januzzi, hailing from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasized the significance of these biomarkers as indicators of impending heart and kidney issues. The study found that individuals who were administered canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor used as a third-line treatment for type 2 diabetes after metformin, exhibited reduced levels of the four biomarkers compared to those who received a placebo over a three-year period.
Notably, the administration of canagliflozin played a crucial role in substantially decreasing the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure and related complications in patients identified as high risk.
The analysis involved the scrutiny of biomarker data extracted from blood samples of 2,627 participants, categorized into low, medium, and high-risk groups. The high-risk category demonstrated significantly higher rates of progressive kidney failure and cardiovascular complications throughout the study.
Elevated concentrations of each biomarker at the study’s commencement were strongly indicative of the severity of heart and kidney issues in participants. Moreover, the levels of these biomarkers in individuals taking canagliflozin decreased after one and three years, in contrast to those taking the placebo.
The findings underscore the potential of this blood test to offer early insights into heart and kidney complications, aiding in the initiation of preventative therapies before symptoms manifest. Further research will be crucial to better comprehend the interplay between type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, and how early interventions can be optimized to mitigate risks.