Finerenone in Hispanic Patients With CKD and Type 2 Diabetes: A Post Hoc FIDELITY Analysis

Rationale & Objective: In FIDELITY, finerenone improved cardiorenal outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes. This analysis explores the efficacy and safety of finerenone in Hispanic patients. Study Design: Post hoc analysis of the FIDELITY prespecified pooled analysis of the FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD randomized control trials. Setting & Participants: Patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio [UACR] of ≥30 to <300 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of ≥25-≤90 mL/min/1.73 m ², or UACR of ≥300 to ≤5,000 and eGFR of ≥25 mL/min/1.73 m ²) on optimized renin–angiotensin system blockade. Intervention: Finerenone or placebo. Outcomes: Cardiovascular composite (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure); kidney composite (kidney failure, sustained ≥57% eGFR decline, or renal death); change in UACR. Results: Of 13,026 patients, 2,099 (16.1%) self-identified as Hispanic. Median follow-up was 3.0 years. The cardiovascular composite outcome occurred in 10.0% of Hispanic patients receiving Finerenone and in 12.3% of Hispanic patients receiving placebo (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.62-1.04). This was consistent with non-Hispanic patients (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.97; P _interaction= 0.59). The kidney composite outcome occurred in 6.5% and 6.6% of Hispanic patients with finerenone and placebo, respectively (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.67-1.33). The risk reduction was consistent with that observed in non-Hispanic patients (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.87; P _interaction= 0.22). Finerenone reduced UACR by 32% at month 4 in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients versus placebo (P < 0.001 for both patient groups). The safety profile of finerenone and incidence of hyperkalemia was similar between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patient groups. Limitations: Small sample size, short follow-up time, and lower treatment adherence in the Hispanic population. Conclusions: Overall, the efficacy and safety of finerenone were similar in Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes. Funding: Bayer AG Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02540993, NCT02545049 Plain-Language Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes occurs more frequently in Hispanic patients than in non-Hispanic patients, with a more rapid progression to kidney failure. Treatment with finerenone reduces the risk of having a kidney or heart event (such as starting dialysis or having a heart attack) in patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes. Because clinical trials that investigate treatments for CKD and type 2 diabetes have not included enough Hispanic patients, the benefits of treatments particularly for Hispanic patients are frequently unknown. This study explores the benefits of finerenone in Hispanic patients. Overall, the study shows that finerenone can provide kidney and heart benefits in Hispanic patients with CKD and type 2 diabetes, as it does in non-Hispanic patients.