Fenofibrate Adds No Benefit to Diabetes Patients on a Statin
I wonder what would have happened if it had been used alone, in statin-intolerant patients. Another issue is whether the average 4.7 years of follow-up in the study was long enough. Because the drug works via relatively weak risk factors like triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, perhaps the follow-up was too brief.
The study results clearly show no benefit from fenofibrate for all high-risk patients with diabetes. The results particularly indicated no benefit in women. Further studies should be done to address these issues.
PAUL D. THOMPSON, M.D., is director of preventive cardiology at Hartford (Conn.) Hospital. He disclosed relationships with several pharmaceutical companies including Merck and Abbott, and with the American Board of Internal Medicine, the National Lipid Association, and Genomas. He has served on a data and safety monitoring board for Abbott, and has received other financial benefit from General Electric, Stryker, and Zimmer Holdings.
