Rosiglitazone evaluated for cardiovascular outcomes in oral agent combination therapy for type 2 diabetes (RECORD): a multicentre, randomised, open-label trial
Randomized controlled trial published in Lancet (London, England) (2009)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rosiglitazone is an insulin sensitiser used in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or both, for lowering blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. We assessed cardiovascular outcomes after addition of rosiglitazone to either metformin or sulfonylurea compared with the combination of the two over 5-7 years of follow-up. We also assessed comparative safety. METHODS: In a multicentre, open-label trial, 4447 patients with type 2 diabetes on metformin or sulfonylurea monotherapy with mean haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) of 7.9% were randomly assigned to addition of rosiglitazone (n=2220) or to a combination of metformin and sulfonylurea (active control group, n=2227). The primary endpoint was cardiovascular hospitalisation or cardiovascular death, with a hazard ratio (HR) non-inferiority margin of 1.20. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00379769. FINDINGS: 321 people in the rosiglitazone group and 323 in the active control group experienced the primary outcome during a mean 5.5-year follow-up, meeting the criterion of non-inferiority (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.85-1.16). HR was 0.84 (0.59-1.18) for cardiovascular death, 1.14 (0.80-1.63) for myocardial infarction, and 0.72 (0.49-1.06) for stroke. Heart failure causing admission to hospital or death occurred in 61 people in the rosiglitazone group and 29 in the active control group (HR 2.10, 1.35-3.27, risk difference per 1000 person-years 2.6, 1.1-4.1). Upper and distal lower limb fracture rates were increased mainly in women randomly assigned to rosiglitazone. Mean HbA(1c) was lower in the rosiglitazone group than in the control group at 5 years. INTERPRETATION: Addition of rosiglitazone to glucose-lowering therapy in people with type 2 diabetes is confirmed to increase the risk of heart failure and of some fractures, mainly in women. Although the data are inconclusive about any possible effect on myocardial infarction, rosiglitazone does not increase the risk of overall cardiovascular morbidity or mortality compared with standard glucose-lowering drugs. FUNDING: GlaxoSmithKline plc, UK.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Rosiglitazone is an insulin sensitiser used in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or both, for lowering blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This multicentre, randomised, open-label trial assessed cardiovascular outcomes in 4,447 patients with type 2 diabetes randomised to addition of rosiglitazone versus metformin-sulfonylurea combination over a mean 5.5-year follow-up. Rosiglitazone met non-inferiority for the primary endpoint of cardiovascular hospitalisation or cardiovascular death (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.85–1.16) but significantly increased heart failure hospitalisation or death risk (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.35–3.27) and upper and distal lower limb fracture rates, mainly in women. This article concerns thiazolidinedione safety and glucose-lowering strategy in diabetes management. It has no connection to leeches, hirudotherapy, or the leech secretome, and no defensible relevance to ASH's domain exists.
Citation
Rosiglitazone evaluated for cardiovascular outcomes in oral agent combination therapy for type 2 diabetes (RECORD): a multicentre, randomised, open-label trial
Home PD et al. · Lancet (London, England), 2009
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