Kidney disease medication found to reduce risk of cardiovascular death in certain heart failure patients in new study

A medication used for chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes has shown promise in reducing the risk of worsening heart failure and cardiovascular death in certain people with heart failure. The medication, called finerenone, may be effective in individuals with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Heart failure with this condition often lacks available therapies, creating a significant unmet need. Finerenone could potentially be a valuable addition to the treatment options for such patients. The drug works by blocking the receptor for the hormone aldosterone, which can raise blood pressure by making the kidneys retain salt and water. By preventing the loss of potassium, finerenone helps maintain potassium levels, crucial for heart health. While the drug does increase the risk of hyperkalemia (high blood potassium levels), hospitalization for hyperkalemia was rare among patients taking finerenone. A review of four clinical trials on mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) found significant reductions in heart failure hospitalizations among heart failure patients. MRAs reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization in patients with reduced ejection fraction and mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Finerenone, a nonsteroidal MRA, was among the drugs investigated. The expanded use of finerenone for heart failure therapy could be considered alongside traditional MRAs like spironolactone and eplerenone. Heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction have historically been challenging to manage, and the study provides support for the possible use of finerenone as an additional therapy. However, more data, especially involving a diverse population, is needed to ensure the relevance of the findings to all sufferers.