Lowering HbA1c in type 2 diabetics results in reduced risk of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality.
OBJECTIVE
To assess to which extent lowering the level of HbA1c influences the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
A literature search in Pubmed and Embase was performed, and the absolute risks in the results of the relevant and valid studies compared.


RESULTS
Each study shows that with a decreasing percentage of HbA1c, both the risk of developing CHD and the risk of mortality decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
Lowering HbA1c in type 2 diabetics decreases the absolute risk of developing CHD by 5-17%, as well as decreasing all-cause mortality by 6-15%.
ten Brinke
Rien
R
University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), Van Brakelstraat 9 bis, 3572 XP Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dekker
Nicky
N
de Groot
Marjolein
M
Ikkersheim
David
D
D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin