GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) represents an important diabetes (DM) complication associated with significant impacts on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Recent evidence from cardiovascular and kidney outcome trials has dramatically impacted the standard of care for patients with DKD. While agents from the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class are known for their atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) benefits, growing mechanistic and clinical evidence supports the benefit of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy on progression of DKD. GLP-1 receptor activation is associated with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in the kidney, providing a plausible mechanism for kidney protection. Based on currently available clinical trial evidence, guidelines recommend the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists to mitigate ASCVD risk in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Furthermore, based on secondary outcome data for kidney disease, GLP-1 receptor agonists are recommended as an option to mitigate kidney and ASCVD risk in patients with T2D and DKD who require intensification of glycemic control or for those who cannot take a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor due to side effects or advanced stage DKD. Ongoing dedicated kidney disease outcome trials will further inform the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in DKD management. This review discusses current considerations for GLP-1 receptor agonist use in patients with T2D and DKD.