Chronic kidney disease imposes an escalating burden on healthcare systems, demanding that nephrologists adopt more effective, multifaceted strategies to slow progression and optimize patient outcomes.
Comprehensive chronic kidney disease (CKD) management requires a combination of pharmacological and lifestyle approaches, as outlined in the KDIGO 2021 CKD management guidelines. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors represent a class of medications in CKD treatment, slowing disease progression by promoting renal protection, reducing hyperfiltration, and lowering blood pressure, as demonstrated in a study on the efficacy of new SGLT2 inhibitors in CKD.
Building on these results, combination therapy with SGLT2 inhibitors and ACE inhibitors has shown reductions in specific CKD progression markers such as proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, as highlighted by recent research on combination therapy in CKD management.
Dietary interventions are emerging as vital adjuncts to pharmacotherapy. Adopting plant-based diets can help mitigate CKD progression by decreasing proteinuria and metabolic acidosis, thereby supporting kidney function naturally—a benefit underscored by a comprehensive review on plant-based diets and CKD.
Exercise in CKD is a vital component of patient care strategies. Structured exercise such as aerobic and resistance training not only improves cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength but also enhances overall well-being in CKD patients, according to the impact of structured exercise on CKD patients.
These evolving insights suggest that integrating novel therapies with targeted lifestyle modifications may improve kidney health outcomes. While long-term data are still maturing, ongoing drug development efforts and personalized care plans are essential to address remaining uncertainties. As access to these interventions widens, clinicians should remain vigilant in tailoring strategies to individual patient profiles and emerging evidence.
- SGLT2 inhibitors significantly slow CKD progression by enhancing renal protection.
- Combining SGLT2 inhibitors with ACE inhibitors yields synergistic benefits in preserving renal function.
- Plant-based diets and structured exercise effectively complement pharmacotherapy in CKD management.
- Ongoing research and individualized treatment plans are crucial for optimizing outcomes.