(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers say medications provide the same amount
of protection as angioplasty in treating type-2 diabetics, and new insight shows
the choice could be a significant money saver.
In an NIH trial, more than 2,000 patient with type-2 diabetes took medications
including statins, aspirin, beta-blockers and either ACE inhibitors or
angiotensin-receptor blockers. Accumulated costs over four years show sticking
with drug treatment rather than undergoing angioplasty saved an average of
$11,000 per patient.
While a recent study funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found
angioplasty and drug treatment were equally effective at preventing heart
attacks and death in patients with mild-to-moderate heart disease symptoms, the
NIH study focused on patients with type-2 diabetes since they have a higher risk
of cardiovascular disease, as well as a greater risk of heart attack and death
resulting from the disease. Results show medication works as well as angioplasty
in patients with type-2 diabetes.
"For patients with relatively mild symptoms of heart disease, angioplasty is
clearly more expensive and it's clearly not more beneficial," Mark Hlatky, M.D.,
professor of health research and policy and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford
University, was quoted as saying.
The average cost of treatment for all patients in the study was $70,000 over
four years.
Source: Circulation, November 17, 2009
