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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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In an effort to objectively evaluate the heart disease imposed by diabetes, the National Institutes of Health sponsored the ACCORD Trial (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes). The study was designed in the late 90’s and began in 2001. Approximately 10,000 type 2 diabetic persons were randomly assigned to either:
1) Intensive glycemic control targeted to a normal level of HbA1c
2) Standard glycemic control targeted to a HbA1c range typical of community care
After several years of clinical care, cardiovascular event data collection and different treatment goals, unexpectedly, the glycemic trial was modified and all intensive participants were transferred to standard care, when it was found that the total number of deaths from all causes was modestly but significantly increased in the intensive group. However, the trial continues in order to determine the most appropriate and effective ways to treat high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, so as to decrease cardiovascular events. The trial ends in 2009 and data analysis will be available in 2010.
More information is available on this February 6, 2008 - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute press release: For Safety, NHLBI Changes Intensive Blood Sugar Treatment Strategy in Clinical Trial of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes is growing by leaps and bounds in the USA and other parts of the world. It is also fast becoming the single most common cause of heart (cardiovascular) disease. The ACCORD Study should tell us the best way to treat diabetes in millions of people so as to cut down on their chances of developing cardiovascular complications, like heart attacks, strokes or even worse, dying from such complications. It should benefit the families of patients with diabetes, because they have a higher chance of getting diabetes and of having heart disease someday too. We are grateful to the research volunteers who are participating in ACCORD for the benefit of all of us.
You can also learn more details by visiting the ACCORD Study Website.
This article is a NetWellness exclusive. 
Last Reviewed: Mar 03, 2008
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Saul Genuth, MD Professor of Medicine Endocrinology Division University Hospitals School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University |
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