A new study of the diabetes drug Avandia clarifies its effect on the heart. The study, called RECORD, confirmed that this medicine doubles the likelihood of a patient developing heart failure. In this condition, the heart has great difficulty pumping adequate blood. RECORD also showed that Avandia boosts the risk of bone fractures. But people with type 2 diabetes are no more likely to die of heart attacks when taking Avandia than when taking older drugs such as metformin. A commentary published in the Lancet suggests that doctors should prescribe lower doses of Avandia to limit adverse reactions and still get some of the benefits.
[Lancet, online June 5, 2009]
