According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 65% of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Most diabetics have other health problems, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which increase their risk for heart disease. In a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists found that a diabetes drug called pioglitazone (marketed as Actos®) may prevent the progression of coronary artery disease and improve risk factors for heart disease.

The scientists compared the effects of pioglitazone and glimepiride (marketed as Amaryl®) on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, the deposition of fatty substances on the lining of the blood vessels of the heart. They found that, after 18 months of treatment, patients treated with pioglitazone had a statistically significant lower rate of coronary atherosclerosis progression. Although the scientists in this study did not evaluate the impact of this finding, another clinical trial reported results supporting the benefits of pioglitazone in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Because atherosclerosis is particularly aggressive in diabetics, defining the best strategy for managing heart disease in the diabetic population has a significant impact on public health. Although more supportive data is needed before changing the current guidelines for diabetes therapy, pioglitazone may be a promising strategy for reducing the risk of heart disease in the millions of diabetic Americans.