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Actos May Lower Heart Disease Risk In Diabetics With Kidney Disease

Med Headlines - A study conducted in Cologne, Germany, concluded that pioglitazone (Actos) may lower the risk of serious cardiovascular events for diabetic patients who have kidney disease. The study, which is featured in the January issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, was conducted by Dr. Chistian A. Schneider of the University of Cologne.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

According to the German study, the rates for all-cause death, myocardial infarction or stroke were reduced by a third when patients take Actos. It was the latest in a growing list of systematic reviews that suggest a lower rate of cardiovascular events when patients take pioglitazone.

There are several factors which may explain the increased cardiovascular risk in patients with kidney disease and diabetes, the researchers said. First, severe kidney disease often coexists with other cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension and smoking. Second, impaired kidney function is associated with elevated markers of inflammation which can lead to cardiovascular events. Finally, patients with rental disease are less likely to receive efficacious therapy for cardiovascular disease.

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