Kidney Health NZ welcomes new evidence for treatment

“A real game changer” is how Kidney Health New Zealand’s CEO, Carmel Gregan-Ford, described the news that evidence from a research trial showing the breakthrough drug canagliflozin could offer real hope for patients suffering from diabetic kidney disease.

The research from the CREDENCE trial presented by the George Institute of Global Health at the recent International Society of Nephrology World Congress in Melbourne, shows the new treatment drug could reduce kidney failure in patients with diabetes and kidney disease.

The new treatment for people with diabetes and kidney disease reduced kidney failure by a third according to the trial, it also showed heart failure was reduced by over 30% and major cardiovascular events were reduced by about 20%.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease in New Zealand, with almost 50% of all patients on dialysis having diabetes as their cause of kidney failure.

This is a significant medical breakthrough as people with diabetes and kidney disease are at very high risk of kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and death. The fact there is now an effective way to reduce the risk is exciting.

It is estimated there are more than 400,000 people with Chronic Kidney Disease in New Zealand, the majority unaware they are in the early stages of the disease. Those at risk include; those who have diabetes, have a family history of kidney failure, are of Maori or Pacific origin, are obese, have high blood pressure, are over 60 years old, have cardiovascular disease, are a smoker or have a history of acute kidney injury.

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