Associate Professor Brendon Neuen, Royal North Shore Hospital
diabetes drug offers valuable health benefits A major new study, led by RNSH’s Associate Professor Brendon Neuen, has found combining Ozempic with another widely used diabetes drug can improve heart and kidney health. The research, which is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind, is expected to inform the management of people with diabetes globally. The study analysed 12 landmark clinical trials involving around 73,000 patients with a broad range of health conditions including heart failure, diabetes, and kidney disease. It found that combining one type of diabetes medication (SGLT2is) with medications including Ozempic was not only safe, but offered additional protection against heart and kidney disease in patients with diabetes. The research found the combination of diabetes medications reduced the risk of chronic kidney disease progression by 33 per cent, and slowed the annual loss of kidney function by almost 60 per cent. It also found that using the two drugs together reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events like a heart attack or stroke by 11 per cent, and hospitalisations for heart failure or cardiovascular death by 23 per cent. Brandon, who is also the Director of Kidney Trials at RNSH, said it was important to look at the combined effect of the medications given the rapidly expanding use of drugs like Ozempic. “We know that these medications work well independently and now our findings support the use of a combined approach to further improve kidney and heart health for patients with diabetes,” he said. “Diabetes is a known risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney disease, with impaired glucose control causing damage to blood vessels in the heart and kidneys. “Many patients with diabetes live with cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease, with the prevalence increasing in the years following a diabetes diagnosis. “We anticipate that our study will inform clinical guidelines for people with diabetes not just in Australia but globally as well.” You can support Brandon’s work by contacting the NORTH Foundation, the district’s charity partner: info@northfoundation.org.au.
WWW.NSLHD.HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU
3
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online