To the Editor: We thank Professor Currie for his interesting interpretation [1] of the complex analyses undertaken to examine the relationship between HbA1c and outcomes in the ADVANCE trial cohort [2].
With respect to the use of time-weighted average HbA1c levels, we used several different approaches for assessing HbA1c levels including baseline values and time‐dependent covariates. Each gave similar findings to those presented. The averaging method published was required by reviewers and deemed most understandable by clinicians.
With respect to potential treatment effects, we regard the randomised comparisons between the intensive and the standard glucose control groups, reported in our main results paper of 2008, to be the paramount result [3]. This takes account of the achieved difference in HbA1c of 0.67% on average, and 0.7% at the end of the study, as well as differences in treatments. Since all models in our more recent paper adjusted for assignment to the intensive or standard glucose control treatment strategies [2], it was deemed unnecessary and excessive also to adjust for use of therapeutic classes, including sulfonylureas and insulins, which were more commonly used in the intensive glucose control group. This approach was also followed by the ACCORD trial investigators in similar post hoc epidemiological analyses [4]. Furthermore, we avoided further post-randomisation adjustment since we believed this would introduce bias by indication.
Although unexpected, our finding of a difference in the magnitude of the association between HbA1c and major outcomes by randomised treatment group was also reported by the ACCORD investigators [4]. Using updated average HbA1c levels, ACCORD reported higher adjusted all-cause mortality risks for each 1% higher HbA1c in the intensive compared with standard glucose treatment arms (intensive HR 1.66 [95% CI 1.46, 1.49] vs standard HR 1.14 [95% CI 0.95, 1.38]) [4].
References
Currie CJ (2012) ADVANCE and glycaemia thresholds: a need to clarify the statistical approach. Diabetologia. doi:10.1007/s00125-012-2575-4
Zoungas S, Chalmers J, Ninomiya T et al (2012) Association of HbA1c levels with vascular complications and death in patients with type 2 diabetes: evidence of glycaemic thresholds. Diabetologia 55:636–643
ADVANCE Collaborative Group, Patel A, MacMahon S et al (2008) Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 358:2560–2572
Riddle MC, Ambrosius WT, Brillon DJ et al (2010) Epidemiologic relationships between A1C and all-cause mortality during a median 3.4-year follow-up of glycemic treatment in the ACCORD trial. Diabetes Care 33:983–990
Duality of interest
J. Chalmers holds a research grant from Servier as a principal investigator for ADVANCE. S. Zoungas, J. Chalmers and M. Woodward have received lecturing fees from Servier. There are no other dualities of interest relevant to this manuscript.
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All authors were responsible for drafting the letter and reviewing it critically for important intellectual content. All authors approved the version to be published.
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Zoungas, S., Chalmers, J., Li, Q. et al. ADVANCE and glycaemia thresholds: a need to clarify the statistical approach. Reply to Currie CJ [letter]. Diabetologia 55, 2300 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-012-2576-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-012-2576-3