Metabolic control may improve life expectancy in type 2 diabetes patients: JAMA

USA: Achieving recommended goals is likely to extend the life expectancy (LE) of type 2 diabetes patients, concludes a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. 

The researchers suggested the potential profits in life expectancy (LE) affiliated with biomarker improvement, discovering that improving each of the four biomarkers, namely lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and body mass index (BMI) toward required guidelines, was associated with gains in LE, though the pattern and magnitude varied between them and depending on patients' characteristics. 

In the United States, progress in controlling risk factors for diabetes has stopped and remains inadequate. To date, no studies have been conducted to assess the value of constantly increasing target attainment. To estimate prospective increases in LE among persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D) related with HbA1c, SBP, LDL-C, and BMI toward ideal ranges, this study was done.

BRAVO analysis for the diabetes microsimulation model was validated to a nationally representative of adults with T2D from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2016) utilizing linked short-term mortality data from the National Death Index in this decision analytical model. The model was then utilized to run a simulation experiment on the study population over the course of a lifetime. The data were examined from January to October 2021. The study population was divided into quartiles based on HbA1c, LDL-C, SBP, and BMI values. Moving persons with T2D from the present quartile of each biomarker to the lowest quartiles were used to estimate the LE benefits associated with improved control.

The results assessed tell that using data from 421 persons with T2D, this decision analysis model revealed that those in the lowest BMI, HbA1c, SBP, and LDL-C population quartile had 3.9, 3.8, 1.9, and 0.9 years of extra LE, respectively, compared to those in the highest BMI, HbA1c, SBP, and LDL-C population quartile.

In conclusion, the findings may be utilized by physicians and patients to establish appropriate treatment objectives, motivate patients to achieve them, and quantify possible health benefits for initiatives and programs to enhance diabetes care in the United States.

Reference:

Kianmehr H, Zhang P, Luo J, et al. Potential Gains in Life Expectancy Associated With Achieving Treatment Goals in US Adults With Type 2 Diabetes. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(4):e227705. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7705