Cardiovascular outcome trials of glucose-lowering strategies in type 2 diabetes

摘要

There is a wave of cardiovascular intervention trials with antidiabetes drugs, largely driven by regulatory requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rury Holman and colleagues1 underline that, because of their placebo-controlled design and short duration, these studies are unlikely to provide a clear answer about comparative efficacy and the risk-benefit balance of the cardiovascular effects of antidiabetes drugs. The Thiazolidinediones Or Sulfonylureas and Cardiovascular Accidents Intervention Trial (TOSCA.IT) compares pioglitazone and sulfonylureas as add-on treatments to metformin on long-term cardiovascular endpoints.2 This study is supported by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) and by Diabete Ricerca, the non-profit foundation of the Italian Diabetes Society.