(Ivanhoe Newswire) – New research shows screening diabetic patients for coronary arterial disease (CAD) does not reduce the rate of coronary events.

Nearly 200 million people worldwide have type 2 diabetes, putting them at increased risk for CAD, which can lead to a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. CAD often shows no symptoms, leaving patients in the dark about their risk for coronary events. However, in a recent study, researchers found routine screening for CAD did not significantly reduce patients’ risk of a coronary event.

Over a five year follow up period, researchers found the number of coronary events, rates of primary medical prevention and coronary revascularization were nearly identical, showing no benefit to routine CAD screening.

“Rather than viewing this study as a negative screening study, clinicians might consider the results as a positive message: patients with type 2 diabetes without symptoms to suggest CAD, receiving contemporary medical care, close follow-up, and appropriate diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of ischemia have relatively favorable outcomes in the current era," the study authors wrote.

SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2009;301[15]:1547-1555