This is a single-center prospective observational clinical study conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. A total of 425 patients aged 18-75 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus-related chronic kidney disease will be enrolled from February 2026 to January 2029. All participants will receive standard finerenone treatment in accordance with clinical guidelines with a 4-month follow-up period. Blood and urine samples will be collected at screening, baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 4 months after treatment initiation for routine biochemistry, aldosterone/renin testing, captopril suppression test and multi-omics analysis. Participants will be categorized into benefit group, partial benefit group and non-benefit group based on the reduction rate of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) at Month 4. We will combine demographic data, laboratory indicators and multi-omics profiles to identify key biomarkers predicting finerenone response, and construct a predictive model to realize precise individualized therapy for diabetic kidney disease. All study-related laboratory tests are free of charge for subjects. A priority consultation channel is available during follow-up, and free professional consultation on diabetic nephropathy will be provided. Serum potassium and renal function will be closely monitored to manage safety risks such as hyperkalemia. All personal data and biological samples are anonymized and stored in encrypted systems with strict confidentiality protection. Subjects may withdraw from the study voluntarily at any time without interference to their routine clinical care.
This single-center prospective observational cohort study will recruit 425 eligible adult patients aged 18-75 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus associated chronic kidney disease (T2DM-CKD) from the Chongqing Diabetes Registry, endocrine wards and outpatient clinics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between February 2026 and January 2029. All enrolled subjects will receive guideline-directed finerenone oral therapy for a 4-month observation period, with dose adjusted based on baseline eGFR and serum potassium levels per drug instructions. Serial blood and urine biospecimens will be collected at screening, baseline, month 1, month 2 and month 4 visits. Collected samples will be tested for routine biochemistry, electrolytes, renal function, HbA1c, plasma renin and aldosterone; captopril suppression test and multi-omics profiling will also be performed at designated time points. According to the percentage reduction of urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) at month 4, participants will be stratified into three subgroups: benefit group (UACR reduction ≥30%), partial benefit group (10% ≤ UACR reduction \<30%), and non-benefit group (UACR reduction \<10% or elevated UACR). Primary objective is to identify core biomarkers associated with finerenone therapeutic response. Secondary outcomes include serial changes in eGFR, UACR, serum potassium, aldosterone and renin across all follow-up time points. Sample size calculation was performed using R pmsampsize package, accounting for a 10% anticipated loss to follow-up to reach the target sample of 425 subjects. All statistical analyses will be conducted via R and Python with machine learning algorithms to develop and validate a predictive model for finerenone efficacy. Safety monitoring including serum potassium and renal function assessment will be conducted at every visit. Subjects with hyperkalemia or progressive renal impairment will suspend finerenone per predefined criteria. All study-related laboratory examinations are provided free of charge to participants, with priority medical consultation service available throughout follow-up. All personal clinical data and biological samples are anonymized and stored under encrypted management to protect participant privacy. Subjects may withdraw consent at any time without impact on routine clinical treatment. Study findings will be summarized and published in peer-reviewed journals after data collection is fully completed.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
425
Oral finerenone administered once daily for 4 months. Dosage is individualized based on baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum potassium per drug labeling. Subjects maintain stable background hypoglycemic, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapies throughout the observational period. No additional study-specific drugs or experimental procedures are applied; only routine clinical finerenone treatment is observed with serial blood and urine sample collection for multi-omics and biomarker analysis.
Key biomarkers associated with therapeutic response to finerenone
Identify core multi-omics, biochemical and clinical biomarkers that predict whether patients with type 2 diabetes-related chronic kidney disease can achieve renal benefit from finerenone treatment.
Time frame: 4 months after finerenone initiation
Percentage change in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline to Month 4
Stratify participants into benefit (UACR reduction ≥30%), partial benefit (10% ≤ UACR reduction \<30%), non-benefit (reduction \<10% or increased UACR) based on UACR decline at Month 4.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 4
Serial change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
Dynamic variation of eGFR at each follow-up visit compared with baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 4
Serial change in serum potassium
Continuous monitoring of serum potassium to assess the risk of hyperkalemia during finerenone treatment.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 4
Changes in plasma aldosterone and renin at Month 4
Difference of plasma aldosterone and renin levels between baseline and Month 4 after finerenone intervention.
Time frame: Baseline, Month 4
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