Recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of patients with diabetes and albuminuria. Role of non-steroidal mineralocorticoid antagonism

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is defined by both a decline in glomerular filtration rate and the presence of albuminuria. Although the measurement of the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio is recommended from the time of T2DM diagnosis and subsequently at least once a year, in clinical practice, this assessment is underutilized in many patients. The pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease involves hemodynamic, metabolic, pro-inflammatory, and pro-fibrotic factors. Likewise, in cardio-reno-metabolic syndrome, excessive or dysfunctional adiposity plays a fundamental role, promoting the development of kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, its management requires a multifactorial approach that includes the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (targeting hemodynamic factors), SGLT2 inhibitors (targeting both hemodynamic and metabolic factors), finerenone (with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects), and GLP-1 receptor agonists with demonstrated renal benefits (targeting metabolic factors), with the aim of more effectively slowing CKD progression and reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications. In this review article, we propose strategies to facilitate the proper assessment and implementation of guideline-recommended treatment in patients with diabetes and albuminuria, presenting a ten-point framework to improve the comprehensive and collaborative management of these patients.