Dr. Angelyn Bethel

Angelyn Bethel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States, presented the findings on November 16th at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2005 (AHA).

"Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality related to cardiovascular events" Dr. Bethel said."As the incidence of type 2 diabetes continues to grow to epidemic proportions, it becomes more important that healthcare providers focus their efforts on interventions proven not only to improve diabetes control, but also to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease."

The unique size of the NAVIGATOR cohort provided doctors with a chance to examine a large cohort of patients."The screening data provide an opportunity to understand the multiple intercorrelated risk factors present in people at high risk for both conditions [diabetes and cardiovascular disease," Dr. Bethel said.

In addition to identifying more diabetics, the trialists also found that patients with higher cardiovascular or metabolic risks factors had increasing levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

NAVIGATOR is the first and largest study designed to understand the progression and prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.The results are expected to be reported in 2008 and will further clarify treatment strategies for patients with impaired glucose tolerance, Dr. Bethel said.

Angelyn Bethel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States, presented the findings on November 16th at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2005 (AHA).

In her oral presentation, Dr. Bethel said that while conducting the oral glucose tolerance tests that were part of the screening, the researchers found that 9,092 individuals (20.9%) were already diabetic, but were unaware of their status.Another 11,853 individuals (27.2%) screened were found to have impaired glucose tolerance, a major step on the road to diabetes.

"Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality related to cardiovascular events" Dr. Bethel said."As the incidence of type 2 diabetes continues to grow to epidemic proportions, it becomes more important that healthcare providers focus their efforts on interventions proven not only to improve diabetes control, but also to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease."

The unique size of the NAVIGATOR cohort provided doctors with a chance to examine a large cohort of patients."The screening data provide an opportunity to understand the multiple intercorrelated risk factors present in people at high risk for both conditions [diabetes and cardiovascular disease," Dr. Bethel said.

In addition to identifying more diabetics, the trialists also found that patients with higher cardiovascular or metabolic risks factors had increasing levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

NAVIGATOR is the first and largest study designed to understand the progression and prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.The results are expected to be reported in 2008 and will further clarify treatment strategies for patients with impaired glucose tolerance, Dr. Bethel said.