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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Major Heart, Diabetes Groups Urge Caution in Wake of
Avandia Warning
Study raises concerns; Groups advise patients with
diabetes to talk to their doctor
May 22, 2007 The risk of heart attack and death
for type 2 diabetes patients taking the drug Avandia appears to be
small, but must be considered carefully, says a statement issued
Monday by the American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes
Association and American Heart Association. They advise patients using
this drug should talk to their health care provider to determine the
most appropriate course of action.
Following is the statement.
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Finding of
Increased Heart Attack, Death in Diabetes Patients from Avandia (rosiglitazone)
Sparks FDA Alert
FDA issues immediate alert on the drug marketed as
Avandia.
May 21, 2007 Rosiglitazone, a drug widely used to
treat type 2 diabetes, was found to significantly increase the risk of
heart attacks and death from cardiovascular causes in a study of a wide
range of data and clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration
immediately issued an alert on the drug marketed as
Avandia. The study's authors also
question the approval process used by the FDA for the approval of drugs
to treat diabetes.
Read More...
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Today the New England Journal of Medicine published
an article entitled, "Effect of Rosiglitazone on the Risk of Myocardial
Infarction and Death from Cardiovascular Causes." The conclusions of
this analysis of previous studies of rosiglitazone (brand name, Avandia)
suggest that this oral agent used to treat type 2 diabetes may be
associated with increased risk of heart attack and death from
cardiovascular causes.
According to ACC, ADA and AHA, this study deserves
serious thought and follow-up. As estimated here, the overall level of
the risk associated with rosiglitazone appears to be small, but
nonetheless one that must be considered carefully.
In the meantime, patients using this drug should
talk to their health care provider to determine the most appropriate
course of action. Patients should not stop taking any prescribed
medications without first discussing the issue with their health care
provider. Further research will be needed in this area to provide
conclusive evidence.
It is very important to prevent diabetes when
possible and to effectively treat it when it is present. The treatment
of diabetes should be a team approach, with health care providers and
patients working together to ensure patient education and empowerment.
The most life-threatening consequences of diabetes
are heart disease and stroke, which strike people with diabetes more
than twice as often as they do others. If you have diabetes, it is very
important to control your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol
levels.
Information from the FDA for rosiglitazone can be
found at:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01636.html.
About the American College of Cardiology:
The American College of Cardiology is leading the
way to optimal cardiovascular care and disease prevention. The College
is a 34,000-member nonprofit medical society and bestows the credential
Fellow of the American College of Cardiology upon physicians who meet
its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation
of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter
of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and
operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of
quality care.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's
premier voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research,
information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association's mission is
to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people
affected by diabetes. The Association's commitment to research is
reflected through its scientific meetings; education and provider
recognition programs; and its Research Foundation and Nationwide
Research Program, which fund breakthrough studies looking into the cure,
prevention, and treatment of diabetes and its complications. Visit the
American Diabetes Association at
http://www.diabetes.org/ or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).
About the American Heart Association:
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association
today is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization
dedicated to reducing disability and death from diseases of the heart
and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all
other cardiovascular diseases claim over 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal
year 2005-06 the association invested over $543 million in research,
professional and public education, advocacy and community service
programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn
more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit
http://www.americanheart.org/.
Source: American Diabetes Association
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