Study examines role of insulin resistance in predicting cardiovascular disease.

2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The European Group for the study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR) announced that the clinical trial recruitment milestone of 1,200 subjects has been reached in the Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular disease risk (RISC) study.

RISC is the largest study using the euglycaemic clamp technique to date to examine whether insulin resistance predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as future development of type 2 diabetes. This study, cosponsored by the European Union (E.U.) and AstraZeneca, began in February 2002, involves 14 European countries and is expected to publish initial results by 2005.

The RISC study has three main objectives:

1) To establish whether insulin resistance predicts the deterioration of CVD risk markers, diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia, and CVD;

2) To analyze genetic and environmental contributions to insulin resistance and CVD; and 3) to develop an uncomplicated method for identifying insulin resistant patients in clinical practice. Insulin resistance is a core metabolic dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes and increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The condition is a result of the body's inability to respond effectively to the insulin the body produces, and is associated with blood lipid imbalances, such as an increased prevalence of small low-density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol) particles, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol), and increased levels of triglycerides, all of which can cause atherosclerosis.

"It is estimated that millions of people in the world have insulin resistance, which is strongly linked to the development of future complications such as type 2 diabetes and, possibly, CVD," said Ele Ferrannini, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy. "While theories have been proposed, evidence is lacking as to the role of insulin resistance as an independent and direct cardiovascular risk factor. The RISC study seeks to provide more definitive evidence of this link, which can then be applied to current treatment strategies for these patients."

"People who suffer from type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease-in fact, a person with type 2 diabetes shares the same increased risk as someone who has ...