Assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, Wenjun Fan, MD, MS, PhD, was awarded a nearly $60,000 grant to examine the effectiveness of two new diabetes therapies on aging-related health outcomes in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with diabetes. The study will focus on SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) alongside the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia in diabetes patients.
By leveraging Medicare data, we aim to generate robust evidence to support policy changes and improve healthcare access for AI/AN adults with diabetes.”
Funding is provided by the American Diabetes Association and the Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research.
Compared to other racial and ethnic groups, diabetes disproportionately affects AI/AN populations with significantly higher rates of complications such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. These communities have been historically underrepresented in clinical trials evaluating new diabetes treatments. Fan and her team hope to remedy this gap by using Medicare data to determine the real-world effectiveness of SGLT2is and GLP-1 RAs in reducing aging-related health risks among AI/AN adults.
“By leveraging Medicare data, we aim to generate robust evidence to support policy changes and improve healthcare access for AI/AN adults with diabetes,” said Fan. “And will share our findings with the broader research community and the general public in the hopes that it will inform future diabetes treatment and care.”
