Avandia no longer a heart health risk, latest studies show

Popular diabetes drug, Avandia is now Scott-free from damning studies. Research results posted on Monday saying that heart problems are directly linked to the use of Avandia were quickly hushed, after the latest studies that were released on Tuesday redeemed the drug by saying that it does threaten heart health.

An associate professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Richard Bach, presented the findings at an annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association. The results were based on a 4-year study that showed the occurrence of deaths, strokes or heart attacks were less evident in patients that took Avandia than those who took other diabetes drugs.

Avandia, also known by its generic name, Rosiglitazone, got its approval in 1999 and its aim was to cater for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, reports began arising claiming that the drug increased the risk of heart failure, strokes and bone fractures and after 2007 it took a greater hit after it was viewed as increasing the risk of heart attacks in users.

The Archives of Internal Medicine state that heart attacks rose from 28 percent to 39 percent with the use of Avandia. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association compared Avandia use to another diabetes drug, Actos, and announced that stroke risks rose by 27 percent, death by 13 percent and heart failure by 23 percent.

It is said that age may be a factor in these tests. Most tests used older people while the latest used a younger group. Avandia works based on gene expression and it may be the reason why it the results vary.