November - 2 - 2009
Current equations may overestimate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggested a new report presented at the International Diabetes Federation 2009 World Diabetes Conference. In most countries, diabetes patients are all considered at-risk of CVD and given appropriate treatment, but in overestimating risk scores, such treatment may be mistaken. Risk scores may overestimate risk, however, because physicians are treating patients appropriately and avoiding CV events. Current risk equations, for example, do not consider body-mass index, which has changed since the risk calculations began emerging in the 1970s. One study found that the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study overestimated the risk of major coronary heart disease by 198 percent, and two Framingham equations overestimated the risk by 146 percent and 289 percent. Many of the researchers and study presenters suggested a re-examination of the current risk equations, although it is unlikely that current policies will be completely altered.