Advances in Diabetes Research: New Insights from Switzerland, France, and Denmark

Strategic Insights -

Recent studies from Switzerland, France, and Denmark have shed light on new approaches to managing diabetes. A study from Switzerland found that adding acarbose to existing treatments for type 2 diabetes improved life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy, while a study from France discovered a potential biomarker for assessing compliance with ACE inhibitor treatments. Meanwhile, researchers in Denmark warned that sulfonylureas, commonly used in diabetes therapies, may increase the risk of myocardial infarction.

Key Takeaways:

  • A study from Switzerland found that adding acarbose to existing treatments for type 2 diabetes improved life expectancy by 0.21 years and quality-adjusted life expectancy by 0.19 quality-adjusted life years, while being marginally more expensive than treatment in the placebo arm.
  • The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for acarbose treatment were EUR 633 per life year and EUR 692 per quality-adjusted life year gained.
  • Researchers in France identified a potential biomarker, urinary N-acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro (AcSDKP), for assessing compliance with ACE inhibitor treatments in diabetes care, finding that patients with higher AcSDKP-to-creatinine ratios in their urine were more likely to be adherent to treatment.
  • A discussion from Denmark warned that sulfonylureas, commonly used in diabetes therapies, may increase the risk of myocardial infarction.
  • The risk of myocardial infarction associated with sulfonylureas is still uncertain, but recent data suggest that the risk may be lower than previously thought.

Statistics:

  • 0.21 years: improvement in life expectancy with acarbose treatment
  • 0.19 quality-adjusted life years: improvement in quality-adjusted life expectancy with acarbose treatment
  • EUR 633 per life year: incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for acarbose treatment
  • EUR 692 per quality-adjusted life year gained: incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for acarbose treatment
  • 4,912 patients: number of patients included in the DIABHYCAR trial
  • 27.3%: proportion of ramipril patients who had urinary AcSDKP-to-creatinine ratios above 4 nmol/mmol

Sources:

  • Roze, S., et al. (2006). Acarbose in addition to existing treatments in patients with type 2 diabetes: health economic analysis in a German setting. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 22(7), 1415-1424.
  • Azizi, M., et al. (2006). Assessment of patients' and physicians' compliance to an ACE inhibitor treatment based on urinary N-acetyl Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro determination in the noninsulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, microalbuminuria, proteinuria, cardiovascular events, and Ramipril (DIABHYCAR) study. Diabetes Care, 29(6), 1331-1336.
  • Thisted, H., et al. (2006). Sulfonylureas and the risk of myocardial infarction. Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental, 55(5 Suppl. 1), S16-S19.