Abbott’s CGM Linked to Fewer Hospitalizations for Heart Complications

Abbott has released results from its REFLECT real-world studies that show using FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is related to significant reduction in risk of heart failure hospitalization in people with diabetes.

Data showed CGM tech can help reduce severity of cardiovascular complications in type 1 diabetes patients, regardless of a previous history of low blood sugar events or heart disease-related hospitalizations. Findings also showed a similar reduction in heart-related hospitalizations for people with Type 2 diabetes on insulin using Libre.

The REFLECT data suggests using Libre could lead to lower healthcare costs because of reduced hospital admissions associated with heart complications. The findings revealed hospitalization risk was 80% lower among people with type 1 diabetes with no prior history of cardiovascular disease when using the Libre biowearable technology compared to those who used a traditional blood glucose monitor.

Hospitalization risk was 49% lower for those with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The REFLECT studies were real-world retrospective studies conducted using data from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR), one of the largest and most comprehensive diabetes registers in the world—representing about 90% of all patients with diabetes in Sweden. The REFLECT research considered a range of cardiovascular-disease related conditions including non-fatal heart attack, non-fatal stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular death—conditions commonly seen in people with diabetes.

“These results are remarkable, as we see dual benefits from CGM technology in managing diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications,” said one of the lead authors of the studies, David Nathanson, MD, Ph.D., Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. “CGMs empower people to proactively manage their diabetes and make informed health choices through real-time, constant feedback on their glucose levels. This data shows that using CGMs is linked with significantly reduced hospitalizations related to heart issues, which can have a significant impact on patients, their families and the healthcare system by easing medical, emotional and financial burdens.”

Last month, Abbott entered a first-of-its-kind agreement to integrate data from its FreeStyle Libre systems into Epic’s electronic health record (EHR) systems in the U.S.

“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,” said Mahmood Kazemi, MD, chief medical officer for Abbott’s diabetes care business. “With its heart benefits, Libre makes it easier for people to take control of their health.”