News & Research

Effect of statin treatment on coronary collateral development in patients with diabetes mellitus, by I. Dincer and colleagues. Am J Cardiol 97:772?774, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

A heart attack happens when blood flow is blocked to the heart muscles. One way the body responds is by increasing blood flow in other blood vessels around the blockage that caused the heart attack. This is known as collateral circulation.

People with diabetes tend to have poorer collateral circulation than people without the disease. They might benefit from a medication that helps them prevent or survive a heart attack.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see whether treatment with an anti-cholesterol medication such as statin improved collateral circulation in people with diabetes.

Who was studied?

The study included 149 people with diabetes who had coronary angiography (a test that examines the heart's arteries). All of the patients had one or more heart blood vessels that were more than 95% blocked.

How was the study done?

Researchers measured the collateral circulation of all participants, who then took statin medications for up to 12 months. Then participants had their collateral circulation measured again.

What did the researchers find?

Participants who took the statin medication had better collateral circulation than those who did not. Collateral circulation was also improved in participants who were able to keep their diabetes under control and didn't get worse.

What were the limitations of the study?

The methodology used in the study wasn't very strict, and the number of participants was not very large.

What are the implications of the study?

Statin medications may help improve heart collateral circulation in people with diabetes. A larger study with more rigorous scientific methods is needed to evaluate the true effects of statin medications.