{
  "id": 1910356,
  "title": "Widely prescribed blood pressure drugs linked to 33% higher kidney risk in type 2 diabetes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/widely-prescribed-blood-pressure-drugs-linked-to-33-higher-kidney",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-18T22:45:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily",
    "slug": "sciencedaily",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260816044844.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A study presented at the 63rd ERA Congress suggests that commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs may increase the risk of kidney complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), even when they are already taking newer medications designed to protect kidney function. These drugs, known as dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs), work by relaxing blood vessels and thereby lowering blood pressure. They are often used as second-line treatments for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), an increasingly common cause of kidney failure worldwide.\n\nThe research, which analyzed health data from 31,031 adults with T2D, found that those who took DCCBs alongside standard therapies experienced a 33% higher risk of major adverse kidney events compared to those treated with other blood pressure medications. DKD develops as prolonged high blood sugar damages small blood vessels within the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste from the bloodstream. Proper blood pressure control is crucial for managing the disease, as high blood pressure can accelerate this damage.\n\nWhile the study did not definitively prove causation, researchers suggest that DCCBs may alter blood flow through the kidneys in a way that increases pressure inside the filtering structures, potentially contributing to further kidney damage. Current treatment guidelines for DKD include the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which have shown kidney-protective effects. However, the study indicates that the benefits of these newer drugs may not fully offset the potential risks associated with DCCBs.\n\nDr. Timna Agur, the study's lead author, expressed concern about the implications of these findings for the widespread use of DCCBs in patients with DKD. Further research, including prospective studies and randomized controlled trials, is needed to confirm the association and establish safer blood pressure treatment strategies for this patient population.",
  "summary": "A widely prescribed blood pressure drug was associated with a 33% higher risk of serious kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes, even when they were already taking kidney-protective medications. The surprising finding is prompting researchers to question whether DCCBs are always the safest second-line choice for diabetic kidney disease.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ScienceDaily Health",
        "title": "Widely prescribed blood pressure drugs linked to 33% higher kidney risk in type 2 diabetes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/widely-prescribed-blood-pressure-drugs-linked-to-33-higher-kidney-1915868",
        "published": "2026-08-18T22:45:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}