Study compares renoprotective effects of metabolic bariatric surgery, GLP-1RA

Editor's Note

For diabetic patients with obesity and chronic kidney disease (CKD), metabolic bariatric surgery could protect the kidneys better than therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), according to research published in the September issue of the Annals of Surgery.

Conducted at a large US health system, the study compared 183 patients undergoing surgery with 242 nonsurgical patients who continuously received GLP-1RA. Findings showed that among patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and established CKD, metabolic surgery was significantly associated with a 60% lower risk of progression of kidney impairment and a 44% lower risk of kidney failure or death.