A drug prescribed to treat type two diabetes is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, a study has found.
A study by the British Medical Journal discovered rosiglitazone is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death among older patients compared to a similar drug, called pioglitazone.
The researchers have said 'it is difficult to advocate continued use of rosiglitazone for most patients'.
The researchers estimate for every 93 patients treated with rosiglitazone rather than pioglitazone, one additional cardiovascular event or death would be predicted to occur annually.
The drug is widely used for the treatment of type two diabetes. Researchers identified nearly 40,000 patients aged 66 and older who started treatment with either rosiglitazone or pioglitazone between April 2002 and March 2008.
Data on hospital admission for either a heart attack or heart failure during the six-year study period were recorded and deaths were identified from a national database.
It was found that patients treated with pioglitazone had a significantly lower risk of heart failure and death compared to patients treated with rosiglitazone, but there was no significant difference in the risk of heart attack.
The researchers concluded: 'Our findings suggest clinically important differences in the cardiovascular safety profiles of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone in clinical practice.
'Given the accumulating evidence of harm with rosiglitazone treatment and the lack of a distinct clinical advantage for the drug over pioglitazone, it is reasonable to question whether ongoing use of rosiglitazone is justified.'
They added people who have concerns regarding their diabetes treatment are urged to consult their GP and not to discontinue taking their medication.
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: 'This is a well-designed retrospective study of older people with type two diabetes using rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. Both drugs carry an increased risk of heart failure. The findings confirm previous results of other studies showing that pioglitazone is associated with a reduced risk of heart failure and death but not heart attack compared to rosiglitazone.
'This study adds to the overall body of evidence about the effects of these drugs, yet the claim that one drug is safer than the other remains inconclusive. Perhaps longer term follow-up studies investigating the effectiveness and safety of drugs in clinical practice would be useful.
'The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency state that rosiglitazone is a safe and effective treatment for those diagnosed with type two diabetes.
'Glitazones are not presently recommended for people who have had, or who are at high risk of having, heart failure or if people are at risk of bone fractures. If you are concerned about taking rosiglitazone, you should contact your GP or healthcare team.'
A study by the British Medical Journal discovered rosiglitazone is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and death among older patients compared to a similar drug, called pioglitazone.
The researchers have said 'it is difficult to advocate continued use of rosiglitazone for most patients'.
The researchers estimate for every 93 patients treated with rosiglitazone rather than pioglitazone, one additional cardiovascular event or death would be predicted to occur annually.
The drug is widely used for the treatment of type two diabetes. Researchers identified nearly 40,000 patients aged 66 and older who started treatment with either rosiglitazone or pioglitazone between April 2002 and March 2008.
Data on hospital admission for either a heart attack or heart failure during the six-year study period were recorded and deaths were identified from a national database.
It was found that patients treated with pioglitazone had a significantly lower risk of heart failure and death compared to patients treated with rosiglitazone, but there was no significant difference in the risk of heart attack.
The researchers concluded: 'Our findings suggest clinically important differences in the cardiovascular safety profiles of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone in clinical practice.
'Given the accumulating evidence of harm with rosiglitazone treatment and the lack of a distinct clinical advantage for the drug over pioglitazone, it is reasonable to question whether ongoing use of rosiglitazone is justified.'
They added people who have concerns regarding their diabetes treatment are urged to consult their GP and not to discontinue taking their medication.
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at leading health charity Diabetes UK, said: 'This is a well-designed retrospective study of older people with type two diabetes using rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. Both drugs carry an increased risk of heart failure. The findings confirm previous results of other studies showing that pioglitazone is associated with a reduced risk of heart failure and death but not heart attack compared to rosiglitazone.
'This study adds to the overall body of evidence about the effects of these drugs, yet the claim that one drug is safer than the other remains inconclusive. Perhaps longer term follow-up studies investigating the effectiveness and safety of drugs in clinical practice would be useful.
'The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency state that rosiglitazone is a safe and effective treatment for those diagnosed with type two diabetes.
'Glitazones are not presently recommended for people who have had, or who are at high risk of having, heart failure or if people are at risk of bone fractures. If you are concerned about taking rosiglitazone, you should contact your GP or healthcare team.'
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