Source: New England Journal of Medicine

Viewing a stressful soccer match more than doubles the risk of an acute cardiovascular event, according to a study of the FIFA World Cup held in Germany in 2006.
 
Cardiovascular events occurring in patients in the greater Munich area were prospectively assessed by emergency physicians during the World Cup.

Events were compared with events that occurred during the control period: May 1 to June 8 and July 10 to July 31, 2006, and May 1 to July 31 in 2003 and 2005. Acute cardiovascular events were assessed in 4279 patients.

On days of matches involving the German team, the incidence of cardiac emergencies was 2.66 times that during the control period (P for men, the incidence was 3.26 times that during the control period, and for women, it was 1.82 times that during the control period.

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Source: Diabetes Australia

On 21st May 2007 the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a new analysis which highlighted the possibility of increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes) through the use of rosiglitazone (AVANDIA) by people with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Australia is closely monitoring the situation. It is important to note that the report is based on a preliminary study, which by its design cannot be definitive. The authors of the recently published study themselves state that it has important limitations and the results have ‘considerable uncertainty about the magnitude of observed hazard’.

Diabetes management should be monitored and assessed on an individual basis through consultation between patient and doctor. However Diabetes Australia suggests that people with type 2 diabetes who take rosiglitazone (AVANDIA) should not stop using this medication until they have discussed their ongoing use of this medication individually with their GP or specialist. If a decision is then made to discontinue rosiglitazone (AVANDIA), alternative treatments to maintain diabetes control will need to be considered.

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