UK prospective diabetes study

Abstract

The study would not be possible without the enthusiastic support of all the personnel involved and the willingness of NHS patients in the UK to participate. There is an excellent chance that the study will determine the degree to which improved blood glucose control will prevent the progress of microvascular disease and, similarly, the influence of tight blood pressure control in those patients who are found to be hypertensive. In the glucose control study (diet policy vs. active therapy), 326 diabetes-related deaths are expected by 1994 with 1000 patients having died or suffered a major diabetic complication. If active therapy reduces the complications by 15%, the study has a 65% power of achiving a three standard deviation difference (= P < 0.01 in view of multiple comparisons) and an 84% power at P < 0.05.