Issue 168 Item 1 Acarbose (Precose) Anti-Diabetes Drug May Prevent Heart Disease

Patients who received acarbose were 49% less likely than others to develop heart disease or related problems

In a study reported last year, Dr. Jean-Louis Chiasson, from the University of Montreal, and colleagues showed that treatment with acarbose could help prevent type 2 diabetes in patients at risk for the condition.

Now, using the same group of patients, Dr. Chiasson’s team investigated whether acarbose could protect against heart disease and high blood pressure.

The researchers thought that acarbose might work because the drug is known to reduce blood sugar levels after meals. High levels are believed to promote heart disease and high blood pressure.
The study included 1368 patients who were treated with acarbose or an inactive "placebo" pill three times a day. The patients were followed for just over 3 years, and the results are appear in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association.

More than 200 patients in the acarbose group and 130 in the placebo group left the study early. The most common reason for dropping out early was digestive tract problems, like flatulence, diarrhea and stomach pain.

Patients who received acarbose were 49% less likely than others to develop heart disease or related problems. In addition, such patients were 34% less likely to develop high blood pressure.

The results support the belief that blood sugar levels after meals play an important role in determining a person’s chances of developing heart disease or high blood pressure. Also, they make a strong case for identifying and treating people at risk for diabetes. Journal of the American Medical Association July 23, 2003.

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FACT: Approximately 15% of people with diabetes develop at least one foot ulcer during their lifetime

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