Autor: Violetta Riidas • 30. märts 2009

Tähelepanu! Artikkel on enam kui 5 aastat vana ning kuulub väljaande digitaalsesse arhiivi. Väljaanne ei uuenda ega kaasajasta arhiveeritud sisu, mistõttu võib olla vajalik kaasaegsete allikatega tutvumine.

A new analysis from the largest study of type 2 diabetes treatments has shown that while atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) is relatively common in patients with type 2 diabetes and substantially increases risk of death, these patients can be better protected against death by intensive blood pressure lowering treatment. The findings are published today in the European Heart Journal.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common type of arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat. AF is commonly observed in diabetic patients, who are at least twice as likely to experience the condition. Researchers found that patients with type 2 diabetes with AF had up to 77% increased risk of dying, but this was significantly reduced when clinicians treated patients with a combination blood pressure lowering drugs, (perindopril and indapamide).“Our new analysis confirms that among patients with type 2 diabetes, those with atrial fibrillation are at substantially higher risk of death. This study informs clinicians that AF, or an irregular heart beat is a marker of greater risk of cardiovascular events and death among diabetics. Such patients should have their cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, controlled more aggressively,” said study leader, Professor Anushka Patel, from The George Institute for International Health.An estimated 250 million people are living with diabetes around the world, and this number is projected to increase to 380 million at 2025. Researchers anticipate that around 40 million of these will also have AF.