Benefits of Aldosterone Receptor Antagonism in Chronic Kidney Disease (BARACK D) Trial
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects around 10% of the UK population. It is linked with increasing age and is more common in people with other illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity and primary renal disorders. Of interest to this study, CKD is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, with CKD patients showing greater incidence of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Conventional treatments for cardiovascular disease have been disappointing in CKD patients. There are also limited treatment options to prevent further decline in kidney function. Established drugs called aldosterone receptor antagonists reduce deaths in patients with heart disease. There is also evidence that these drugs may reduce kidney damage attributed to circulating aldosterone. In order to answer the research question, we will conduct a prospective randomised open blinded endpoint (PROBE) trial and economic evaluation using a low dose of the aldosterone receptor antagonist, spironolactone.