New Study Reveals Two-Step Screening Uncovers Heart Failure Risk in Diabetes Patients

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute in Houston, Texas, has discovered a novel two-step screening method that can identify diabetes patients at a higher risk for heart failure. The study, published in the journal Circulation, highlights the importance of early detection and preventive measures in managing this potentially life-threatening condition.

The researchers utilized a risk score and biomarkers in a sequential two-step screening strategy. The first step involved assessing the risk score for each patient, while the second step utilized a combination of two tests including WATCH-DM/NT-proBNP, NT-proBNP/hs-cTn, or NT-proBNP/echocardiography. The second test was administered solely to individuals deemed low-risk based on the initial screening.

During the 5-year follow-up period, the primary outcome assessed was incident heart failure. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening and subsequent treatment of high-risk patients using a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, a preventive drug for heart failure.

“Matching effective but expensive preventive therapies to the highest-risk individuals who are most likely to benefit would be an efficient and cost-effective strategy for heart failure prevention,” stated the researchers in their report.

It is important to note that the study focused on older adults with a high burden of comorbidities, and the findings may not be generalized to the entire population. The inclusion criteria for diabetes diagnosis relied on fasting plasma glucose, which may have missed some individuals. Additionally, the screening strategies did not account for other significant prognostic factors such as diabetes duration and socioeconomic status.

The lead author of the study, Kershaw Patel, and the Houston Methodist Academic Institute collaborated with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for this research. Several authors involved in the study also disclosed financial relationships with various pharmaceutical, device, and medical publishing companies.