Variation in the net benefit of aggressive cardiovascular risk factor control across the US population of patients with diabetes mellitus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and blood pressure (BP) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, to our knowledge, previous studies have not assessed variability in both the benefit and harm from pursuing LDL-C and BP target levels.

Methods

Our sample comprised individuals 30 to 75 years old with DM participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. We used Monte Carlo methods to simulate a treat-to-target strategy, in which patients underwent treatment intensification with the goal of achieving LDL-C and BP target levels of 100 mg/dL and 130/80 mm Hg, respectively. Patients received up to 5 titrations of statin therapy and 8 titrations of antihy

SUBMITTER: Timbie JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2897053 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature