New Study Highlights Heart Risks to Taking GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia

A new study has found that long-term use of Type 2 diabetes drug Avandia increases heart attack risk by more than 40 percent and doubles the chance of heart failure.

The new analysis, by researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and published in the September 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, is one of the first to evaluate how long-term use of Avandia affects risk of heart attacks, heart failure and mortality.

The four studies involved followed more than 14,000 patients for at least a year.

Researchers found that long-term use of GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia (known generically as rosiglitazone) increased the risk of heart attack by 42 percent and doubled the risk of heart failure.

Lead author on the study, Sonal Singh M.D., estimated that 3.5 million patients in the U.S. take Avandia for diabetes. In a Wake Forest press release, Singh said the study’s findings suggest that Avandia “may cause more than 4,000 excess heart attacks and 9,000 excess cases of heart failure a year.”

The press release went on to say that researchers estimate that for every 220 diabetic patients treated with Avandia for one year, one will have a heart attack linked to the drug. And, there would be one case of heart failure for every 30 people taking the drug for one year.

If you or a loved one has suffered cardiac complications after ingesting Avandia, you deserve the guidance of a knowledgeable drug attorney. Get a free case review by filling out the form below.

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see also:

9.12.07 Study Analysis New Study Highlights Heart Risks to Taking GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia
Study: Avandia increases heart attack risk by more than 40 percent

FDA Warning, 5.22.07 FDA Alert on the Anti-Diabetes Drug Avandia: Risk of Heart Attack
Risks to taking the drug Avandia include heart attack and chest pain