Journal Club - Metabolic control may improve life expectancy in type 2 diabetes patients

Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease. 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 life expectancy among persons with type  diabetes related to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and body mass index (BMI) toward ideal ranges, this study was done.

The researchers concluded that "Achieving recommended goals is likely to extend the life expectancy of type 2 diabetes patients". The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers suggested the potential profits in life expectancy 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 life expectancy, though the pattern and magnitude varied between them and depending on patients' characteristics. 

BRAVO analysis for the diabetes microsimulation model was validated to a nationally representative of adults with 10.type 2 diabetes 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, systolic blood pressure, and BMI values. Moving persons with type 2 diabetes from the present quartile of each biomarker to the lowest quartiles were used to estimate the life expectancy benefits associated with improved control.

The results assessed tell that using data from 421 persons with type 2 diabetes, this decision analysis model revealed that those with the lowest BMI, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and LDL-C population quartiles had 3.9, 3.8, 1.9, and 0.9 years of extra life expectancy, respectively, compared to those in the highest body mass index, glycated hemoglobin HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 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.