Abbott has unveiled findings from its REFLECT real-world studies, indicating that the use of FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology is linked to a notable decrease in the risk of hospitalisation for heart complications in diabetic patients.
The data, presented for the first time, demonstrate that CGM technology can mitigate the severity of cardiovascular issues in individuals with Type 1 diabetes, irrespective of previous low blood sugar episodes or heart disease-related hospitalisations.
The studies also show a similar decrease in heart-related hospitalisations for Type 2 diabetes patients on insulin using the Libre biowearable device.
Globally, diabetes remains a significant chronic condition, affecting around 589 million people and often leading to cardiovascular complications, said the company. Individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely than non-diabetics to develop heart disease, a leading cause of mortality for both groups.
While the cardiovascular risks for Type 2 diabetes are well-documented, there is limited awareness regarding heart complications in Type 1 diabetes patients. Adults with Type 1 diabetes who have experienced severe low blood sugar are twice as likely to be hospitalised for heart-related issues.
Abbott’s diabetes care business chief medical officer Mahmood Kazemi said: “These data are transformative and show just how valuable FreeStyle Libre technology is for managing both diabetes and heart health, helping millions of people live healthy lives. With its heart benefits, Libre makes it easier for people to take control of their health.”
The REFLECT findings suggest that Libre technology could potentially reduce healthcare costs for diabetic patients by lowering hospital admissions related to heart complications. The research shows that among Type 1 diabetes patients with no prior cardiovascular disease history, the risk of hospitalisation for cardiovascular issues was reduced by 80% when using Libre biowearable technology compared to traditional blood glucose monitors. For those with a history of cardiovascular disease, the risk reduction was 49%.
The REFLECT studies examined various cardiovascular conditions, including non-fatal heart attacks, non-fatal strokes, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular death, which are common among diabetic individuals.
Funded by Abbott, the REFLECT studies were real-world retrospective analyses using data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR), one of the largest and most comprehensive diabetes registries globally, covering approximately 90% of diabetes patients in Sweden.
