{
  "id": 1915868,
  "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",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-18T22:45:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily Health",
    "slug": "sciencedaily-health",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260816044844.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study presented at the 63rd ERA Congress has suggested that widely prescribed blood pressure drugs may increase the risk of kidney complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These drugs, known as dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs), lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and are often prescribed as second-line treatments for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The research, which analyzed health data from 31,031 adults with type 2 diabetes, found that patients taking DCCBs in addition to standard therapies experienced a 33% higher risk of major adverse kidney events, such as a significant decline in kidney function or progression to end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplantation, compared to those treated with other blood pressure medications. Despite the introduction of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which are recognized for their kidney-protective effects, the increased risk of kidney disease progression persisted even in patients taking these medications. The researchers suggest that DCCBs may alter blood flow through the kidneys, potentially causing additional strain and contributing to continued kidney damage. While the study cannot definitively prove causation, it highlights the need for further research to determine the safest blood pressure treatment strategies for patients with DKD, given the widespread use of DCCBs.",
  "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",
        "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",
        "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."
}