Diabetes Study Altered Due To Increased Death Rate in High Risk Participants
The ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) Trial, was partially shut down Monday, February 4th, due to the unexpectedly high rate of deaths from cardiac complications.
Sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHBLI), scientists were studying the effects of aggressive treatment of blood glucose levels in people with diabetes over a period of seven years.
The theory was that if A1c levels were rigorously kept below 6 percent with intensive medication and tight control, that death from cardiovascular disease and other complications would be lower.
The actual results were that deaths were 25% higher in the group with the lowest A1c levels. That part of the study was halted. Scientists don't know exactly why the death rate was higher in the tightly controlled group. Even though rosiglitazone was one of the drugs used in the study there was no discernable link between that drug and the deaths of participants.
According to the NHBLI, "Current guidelines for diabetes treatment recommend maintaining an A1C level of less than 7 percent for most people with type 2 diabetes, based on the proven benefits of blood sugar control in preventing eye, kidney, and nerve diseases. However, treatment should be tailored to the individual patient."
Read more from the NHBLI about the ACCORD Study and the recent decision to stop the testing... Photo courtesy of stock/byte/Getty Images
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