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For adults with chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (CKD in T2D)

C is for 
Cardiovascular Risk

What is the heart and kidney connection?

Heart and kidney

It’s not only the kidneys that are affected in adults with chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (CKD in T2D). Because your heart and kidneys work together to keep you healthy, what affects one can affect the other.

CKD in T2D increases cardiovascular risk

When damage caused by CKD reduces the kidneys’ ability to do their job, more stress is put on the heart. CKD can increase your risk for cardiovascular events like heart attack. In fact, people with CKD in T2D are 3 times more likely to die from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, than people who have T2D alone.

What is a cardiovascular event?

A cardiovascular (CV) event is a serious problem with your heart or blood vessels that can pose a risk to your health or life, and can include:

Icon of heart with lightening signs

1. Heart attack

stroke-icon

2. Hospitalization for
    heart failure

Icon of heart with a warning sign

3. Death due to
    cardiovascular disease

Your kidney numbers and your cardiovascular risk

The same lab results used to diagnose and track CKD progression can also be used to help understand your CV risk.

Icon of urine specimen cup

UACR (urine albumin-to-
creatinine ratio)

A urine test that measures how
much protein is in the urine.

Icon of a drop of blood indicating blood test

eGFR (estimated
glomerular filtration rate)

A blood test that measures how
well your kidneys are functioning.

Icon of urine specimen cup

UACR (urine albumin-to-
creatinine ratio)

A urine test that
measures how much
protein is in the urine.

Icon of a drop of blood indicating blood test

eGFR (estimated
glomerular filtration
rate)

A blood test that
measures how well your
kidneys are functioning.

cv-events

If protein shows up in your urine test, it may mean kidney damage and a higher risk of CV events. Starting treatment to slow the progression of your CKD can help lower this risk.

For adults with CKD in T2D

KERENDIA may help lower certain cardiovascular risks

Icon of a hand holding a beating heart

KERENDIA is a once-daily pill that can help reduce your risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks.

Icon of a hand holding a beating heart

For adults with CKD in T2D

KERENDIA may help lower certain cardiovascular risks

KERENDIA is a once-daily pill that 
can help reduce your risk of 
serious cardiovascular events, 
such as heart attacks.

How to use your eGFR and UACR lab results to predict CV risk

To use this chart, you will need your most recent eGFR and UACR lab results.

Instructions:

  1. Find your eGFR result on the left side of the chart.
  2. Find your UACR result at the top of the chart.
  3. Find the square where your eGFR and UACR results meet. Its color represents the risk of dying from a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack.
    • Green and yellow represent lower risk
    • Orange and red represent higher risk

To help minimize your CV risk, it’s important to focus on:

  • Maintaining a lower UACR and a higher eGFR
UACR results and risk of dying from a CV event

doctor

Be sure to discuss your cardiovascular risk with your doctor and how treatment can help.

KERENDIA helps your kidneys and your heart

If you’re living with CKD in T2D, it’s important to do more to help care for your kidneys and heart. KERENDIA is proven to slow the progression of CKD and lower the risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attack or hospitalization for heart failure.

Learn About KERENDIA

Doctor Discussion Guide

Get help starting a conversation with your doctor about how helping your kidneys may help lower certain cardiovascular risks, and whether KERENDIA may be right for you.

View the Discussion Guide
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What is KERENDIA?

KERENDIA is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes to reduce the risk of:

  • Worsening of kidney disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Death due to cardiovascular disease
  • Heart attack
  • Hospitalization for heart failure

Important Safety Information

Do not take KERENDIA if you:
  • Have problems with your adrenal glands
  • Take certain medications called CYP3A4 inhibitors. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medications
Before you take KERENDIA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
  • Have high potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia) or take medications that may increase potassium levels in your blood. KERENDIA can cause hyperkalemia. Your healthcare provider will check your potassium levels before and during treatment with KERENDIA
  • Have severe liver problems
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Avoid breastfeeding during treatment with KERENDIA and 1 day after treatment
Tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, including: salt substitutes, vitamins, and herbal or potassium supplements.
  • KERENDIA may affect the way other medications work, and other medications may affect how KERENDIA works. Do not start or stop any medicine before you talk with your healthcare provider. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice as it may increase KERENDIA levels in the blood
The most common side effects of KERENDIA include:
  • Hyperkalemia (potassium level in your blood that is higher than normal)
  • Hypotension (blood pressure that is lower than normal)
  • Hyponatremia (sodium level in your blood that is lower than normal)

Please see the Prescribing Information for KERENDIA.

Important Safety Information

Do not take KERENDIA if you:
  • Have problems with your adrenal glands
  • Take certain medications called CYP3A4 inhibitors. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medications
Before you take KERENDIA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
  • Have high potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia) or take medications that may increase potassium levels in your blood. KERENDIA can cause hyperkalemia. Your healthcare provider will check your potassium levels before and during treatment with KERENDIA
  • Have severe liver problems
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Avoid breastfeeding during treatment with KERENDIA and 1 day after treatment
Tell your healthcare provider about all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, including: salt substitutes, vitamins, and herbal or potassium supplements.
  • KERENDIA may affect the way other medications work, and other medications may affect how KERENDIA works. Do not start or stop any medicine before you talk with your healthcare provider. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice as it may increase KERENDIA levels in the blood
The most common side effects of KERENDIA include:
  • Hyperkalemia (potassium level in your blood that is higher than normal)
  • Hypotension (blood pressure that is lower than normal)
  • Hyponatremia (sodium level in your blood that is lower than normal)

Please see the Prescribing Information for KERENDIA.