Conflicting studies on risk from Avandia confusing to everyone

Conflicting studies on risk from Avandia drug are the reason for concern and bewilderment by both experts and consumers. It is difficult to get a true grasp of what is being presented for discussion when the research and data are differing by such large degrees. Even more troubling is the fact that the studies are not controlled scientific experiments but they consist mostly of analyzed data that leaves a lot of room for error and interpolation of results.

The first study that came to light indicated that Avandia was a drug that was quite possibly causing heart attacks among the elderly. This study covered the history and hospitilazation records of 35,000 individuals. What is not clear is whether or not these people were eating healthy diets, exercising daily and doing everything possible to safeguard their health. Can a drug truly be responsible for causing heart problems if the individuals are also contributing to their own health woes at the same time?

The second study was done by the Food and Drug Administration and they had researchers sifting through the Medicare records of more than 200,000 senior citizens looking for links between the diabetic drug Avandia and health problems. This time they reported the drug was linked to assorted heart conditions, strokes and even death among the elderly. Again one must stop and ask if these are honest results or skewed results because of a non-controlled study environment regarding the individuals in question. Death, heart condition and strokes are common among those who are old enough to qualify for Medicare. Furthermore diabetics (for whom the drug is prescribed) often have a multitude of other underlying health concerns caused by the disease. In many instances the physician and patient may not yet be aware of the problems. Once again you have to ask if it is indeed Avandia that can be blamed.

The drug manufacturer must have thought about these same questions because they undertook a more in depth study of the Avandia medication. Their results show no causal link between Avandia and the health problems that have been attributed to it.