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Journal of Human Hypertension (2005) 19, S27S32

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ADVANCE: action in diabetes and vascular
disease
A Patel1, J Chalmers1 and N Poulter2
1
The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney and The Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Studies Unit,
St Marys Hospital Campus, Imperial College, London, UK

The burden of Type II diabetes is growing rapidly participants by March 2003, the study is currently half
worldwide, across high-, middle- and low-income coun- way through its planned follow-up of 4.5 years. Adher-
tries. This burden is associated primarily with increased ence to randomised study treatment is good; and loss to
risks of macrovascular and microvascular diseases, and follow-up is minimal. It is hoped that the study will
it is agreed that multifactorial treatment regimens are answer a number of unresolved issues. The blood
required to reduce it. ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and pressure lowering arm will investigate the possible
Vascular disease: Preterax and Diamicron-MR Con- reduction in major vascular disease in patients with
trolled Evaluation) is a large-scale, 2  2 factorial, Type II diabetes whether or not they have hypertension,
randomised clinical trial. It will investigate the potential and the possible benefits of blood pressure lowering in
benefits of blood pressure lowering, using a fixed low- such patients already receiving background therapy
dose combination of perindopril and indapamide vs with the ACE inhibitor perindopril. The glucose control
placebo, and of tighter glucose control, using an arm will investigate the possible reduction in both
intensive gliclazide-MR-based glucose control regimen macrovascular and microvascular disease achieved
vs a standard guidelines-based regimen, separately and with tighter glucose control, targeting an HbA1c of
together. The two primary outcomes are a composite 6.5% and a fasting blood glucose of 6.0 mmol/l. Finally,
macrovascular end point of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal the factorial design will enable investigation of the
myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death; and a combined effects of more intensive glucose control and
composite microvascular end point of new or worsening tighter control of blood pressure.
nephropathy or microvascular eye disease. Following Journal of Human Hypertension (2005) 19, S27S32.
successful recruitment and randomisation of 11 140 doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1001890

Keywords: blood pressure lowering; glycaemic control; perindopril; indapamide; Diamicron MR; fixed dose combination

Introduction: diabetes a global health and rising: total medical expenditure on patients
problem with diabetes in the USA in 1999 was four times
greater than expenditure in people without dia-
Diabetes is a major health problem afflicting mil- betes.4 The management of Type II diabetes and the
lions of people across high-, middle- and low- prevention of its complications is a high priority for
income countries.1 Individuals with Type II diabetes public health authorities in all nations.
have markedly increased risks of both macrovascu- Blood pressure and blood glucose levels are
lar disease (including coronary heart disease and among the main determinants of the risk of devel-
stroke) and microvascular disease (including ne- oping both macrovascular and microvascular com-
phropathy and retinopathy).2,3 Globally, coronary plications in patients with diabetes so that blood
disease is the commonest cause of death among pressure control and glycaemic control are para-
subjects with diabetes1 while in high-income coun- mount in this population.
tries diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and
end-stage renal disease.3 While the burden of
diabetes is increasing throughout the world, it is
doing so most rapidly in low- and middle-income Blood pressure glucose and vascular
countries.1,3 Furthermore, the medical costs of disease in Type II diabetes
managing diabetes and its consequences are high Blood pressure control and diabetes: current evidence
Observational data from the UK Prospective Dia-
Correspondence: Professor J Chalmers, The George Institute for
International Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box M201 betes Study (UKPDS)5 demonstrated that each
Missenden Road, Sydney NSW 2050, Australia. 10 mmHg decrement in systolic blood pressure was
E-mail: jchalmers@thegeorgeinstitute.org associated with around a 12% reduction in the risk
ADVANCE
A Patel et al
S28
of myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes. remains considerable uncertainty regarding the
The evidence from randomised trials such as the potential benefits in normotensive patients with
UKPDS and HOT studies6,7 and from meta-analyses diabetes.
such as that conducted by the INDANA group8 has 2. Are such benefits additional to those conferred
shown that blood pressure lowering in hypertensive by background ACE Inhibition? While the reduc-
patients with diabetes reduces the risk of major tions in vascular complications reported for patients
vascular disease, with greater benefits resulting from with Type II diabetes in the HOPE study were
more intensive treatment.68 More recent studies substantial,9 the degree to which these were due to
have shown reductions in the vascular complica- blood pressure lowering or to specific effects of ACE
tions of diabetes using an ACE inhibitor such as inhibition remains debated and uncertain. It is
ramipril (the HOPE Study9) perindopril (the EURO- therefore important to ascertain whether routine
PA trial10) or perindopril and indapamide (the blood pressure lowering patients with Type II
PROGRESS Trial11). The benefits of ACE inhibitor diabetes confers benefits that are additional to these
therapy in patients with diabetes and early mani- of background treatment with an ACE inhibitor,
festations of nephropathy have also been confirmed regardless of the level of blood pressure.
in recent studies and analyses comparing ACE 3. Will more intensive glucose control reduce the
inhibitors with a variety of blood pressure-lowering risk of macrovascular disease? While many diabe-
drugs.1214 The potential benefits of lowering blood tologists fervently believe that more intensive
pressure in nonhypertensive patients with diabetes glucose control, targeting lower levels of HbAlc, will
are less well documented. reduce the risk of major macrovascular disease, the
best available evidence, from the UKPDS trial,
remain inconclusive.20 There is a clear need for
Glycaemic control and diabetes: current evidence fresh evidence from trials of more intensive glucose-
lowering targeting lower levels of HbAlc and fasting
There is only limited evidence on the effects of good
glucose.
glycaemic control on the risk of vascular disease in
4. What are the combined benefits of better blood
Type II diabetes. Observational data from the
pressure control and more intensive glucose control?
UKPDS15 indicated that a reduction in the mean
Finally, while diabetes and hypertension are fre-
glycated haemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) concentration of
quent companions and indeed have been dubbed
1% was associated with a reduction in the risk of
The Bad Companions, there is no clear indication
myocardial infarction of 14% and of microvascular
whether the benefits of more intensive control of
complications of 37%. A recent meta-analysis of
blood pressure and of blood glucose will be
observational data in Type II diabetes, which
additive. Since these two therapeutic strategies are
included UKPDS, indicated that a 1% higher level
currently foremost in the management of patients
of HbA1c was associated with an 18% greater risk of
with Type II diabetes, it is clearly important to
cardiovascular disease.16 More recent evidence from
determine whether each has an independent benefit
the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration in-
in reducing macrovascular and microvascular com-
dicates that a 1 mmol/l lower level of plasma glucose
plications.
concentration in patients with diabetes is associated
ADVANCE is a large-scale randomised factorial
with a 21% reduction in stroke and a 23% reduction
clinical trial designed to address these unresolved
in coronary events.17
issues.21
A number of randomised clinical trials have
reported that patients with Type II diabetes assigned
to more intensive glucose lowering exhibited greater ADVANCE: controlling blood pressure
reductions in the incidence of microvascular and blood glucose in Type II diabetes
events.1820 However, even in the largest of these
trials, the effects of glycaemic control on the risk of Study design
macrovascular disease remain inconclusive.20
ADVANCE is an investigator-initiated and -conducted
trial whose study design has been described
Unresolved issues fully elsewhere21 and is briefly presented here. The
study uses a factorial 2  2 design to address
ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular disease: separately and together, the potential benefits of
Preterax and Diamicron-MR Controlled Evaluation) blood pressure lowering and of glucose control, in
was planned in 1999 in order to address a number of reducing the risk of macrovascular and microvas-
these issues in the management of patients with cular disease in patients with Type II diabetes.
Type II diabetes that were unresolved at the time
and that remain unanswered today.21 Study participants
1. Are there benefits of blood pressure lowering in Eligible subjects were over 55 years of age at entry,
normotensive patients? While the benefits of blood had a diagnosis of Type II diabetes mellitus first
pressure lowering in hypertensive patients with made at the age of 30 years or older and had an
Type II diabetes have been clearly established, there elevated risk of vascular disease.22 Both hypertensive

Journal of Human Hypertension


ADVANCE
A Patel et al
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and nonhypertensive individuals were eligible for target of HbAlc of 6.5% or less, or fasting blood
inclusion and eligibility was independent of the glucose of 6 mmol/l or less.21 Participants assigned
need for background ACE inhibitor therapy. Thus to the control group received standard guidelines-
subjects for whom an ACE inhibitor was deemed to based therapy for glucose control, in accord with
be indicated could be included unless there was a national or institutional guidelines pertaining. If a
specific indication for an ACE inhibitor other than sulphonylurea is used in participants assigned to
perindopril, 4 mg daily or less. Furthermore, there the standard guidelines-based glucose control ther-
were no entry criteria relating to the baseline level of apy, such agent must be other than gliclazide.21
HbAlc or fasting blood glucose or the number or type
of oral hypoglycaemic agents, though patients Study outcomes
requiring regular long-term insulin therapy were The study has two primary outcomes, both compo-
not eligible.21,22 site. The first is the macrovascular composite end
point of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarc-
Study treatment tion or cardiovascular death. The second is the
The blood pressure lowering study regimen used is microvascular composite end point of new or
the fixed-low-dose combination of perindopril worsening nephropathy or microvascular eye dis-
(2 mg) and indapamide (0.625 mg) for the first 3 ease. Secondary outcomes include cerebrovascular
months after randomisation, rising to perindopril disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure, per-
(4 mg) and indapamide (1.25 mg) thereafter, or ipheral vascular disease, macroalbuminuria, visual
matching placebos. This regimen was chosen for a deterioration, neuropathy, dementia and all-cause
number of reasons. These included the established mortality.21 Data are also collected on episodes of
beneficial effects of both classes of drug in reducing major and minor hypoglycaemia, other suspected
the risks of cardiovascular disease in various adverse reactions, quality of life and use of health
populations including those with hypertension care resources.21
and diabetes.2325 A second reason was the broad
consensus that combination therapy is necessary to Study power and statistical consideration
achieve target blood pressures that are agreed to be The sample size estimations were based on a mean
lower in patients with diabetes than in those difference of 6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure and
without.2325 The third was the increasing recogni- 1% in HbAlc for the blood pressure-lowering and
tion that fixed low-dose combinations could be used glucose control arms of the factorial study, respec-
either to initiate therapy or to maintain it with the tively. Assuming an annual event rate of 3% or more
potential to achieve greater tolerability and hence for each of the two composite primary outcomes it
greater efficacy and adherence to therapy.2325 The was estimated that a sample size of 10 000 partici-
use of the fixed, low-dose combination of perindo- pants would provide 90% power to detect at least
pril and indapamide brought together all these 16% reduction in the relative risk of each of the
advantages and avoided the contentious choice primary outcomes for each of the randomised
between various classes of drugs that might be used comparisons.
in monotherapy. For any patient for whom an ACE
inhibitor is believed to be indicated, background
open-label perindopril 2 or 4 mg daily is provided Study status
and can be started at any time during the trial. Other
classes of blood pressure-lowering drugs can be Recruitment
prescribed as necessary, with the exception of Recruitment for ADVANCE began in June 2001 and
thiazide-like diuretics.21 a total of 12 878 potentially eligible patients had
The modified release preparation of the sulpho- entered the open-label run-in phase by March 2003.
nylurea gliclazide MR (30120 mg daily) forms the These were recruited from 215 clinical centres
basis of the glucose control regimen among partici- across 20 countries in Europe, North America, Asia
pants randomly assigned to the intensive glucose and Australia. Of those who entered the run-in
control group. This agent, which provides 24 - hour phase, 1738 were not randomised and the final
glucose control in a single daily dose, was the number of randomised participants was 11 140.22
sulphonylurea used in the Steno-2 trial26 a small The main reasons for withdrawal during the run-in
trial of multifactorial risk intervention among phase were patient choice (27%), patient ineligibil-
patients with Type II diabetes, that included ity (25%), poor compliance (16%), cough (13%)
intensive glucose control, blood pressure control, hypotension or dizziness (5%) and other suspected
ACE inhibition and cholesterol-lowering therapy. intolerance to perindoprilindapamide (8%).22
This multifaceted regimen produced substantial
reduction in both macrovascular and microvascular Baseline characteristics
events, but the contribution of glucose lowering to The baseline characteristics have been described in
these effects cannot be ascertained.26 Nonpharma- full elsewhere.22 In brief, the mean age at baseline
cological therapy, other oral agents and then insulin was 66 years and 43% of participants were female.
can be added as required in AVANCE to achieve the At the start of the run-in phase 32% of subjects had

Journal of Human Hypertension


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A Patel et al
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macrovascular and 10% had microvascular disease. and by allowing all participants to receive such
Of those without a history of major vascular disease, additional blood pressure lowering drugs as are
62% were aged over 65 years, 15% were smokers, deemed necessary by the responsible physician. On
24% had a total cholesterol above 6.0 mmol/l, and the other hand, the excellent tolerability of the fixed
24% had macroalbuminuria.22 low-dose perindoprilindapamide combination,
The mean blood pressure of randomised partici- and the good adherence to randomised therapy
pants was 145/81 mmHg and the average HbAlc prior observed to this point in follow-up will help achieve
to entry into the run-in phase was 7.5%. Approxi- the separation required. So too will the known
mately, three quarters of the study population were efficacy of combining a diuretic with an ACE
taking blood pressure-lowering drugs and a similar inhibitor for lowering blood pressure, and the
proportion were taking a sulphonylurea at the start established value of placebo-controlled comparison
of the trial.22 A total of 35% were taking lipid- in clinical trials, as demonstrated by many studies
lowering therapy and 47% were taking antiplatelet in which the effects of the active treatment regimen
therapy.22 are tested on top of all other therapies. The
On average, the diagnosis of diabetes had first administration of background perindopril to around
been made 8 years before study entry, and among half of randomised participants will also permit
those without a history of macrovascular or micro- assessment of the additional value of blood pressure
vascular disease, 36% of randomised participants lowering in patients already taking an ACE inhibi-
had a diagnosis of diabetes made more than 10 years tor. Finally, the randomisation of 11 400 patients
earlier.22 with Type II diabetes irrespective of the initial level
Certain characteristics of the randomised partici- of blood pressure, or of a history of hypertension,
pants, such as the body mass index, the smoking will enable the study to address the hypothesis that
rate, and the proportion taking various types of blood pressure lowering in patients with diabetes,
medication, varied somewhat between participating will reduce the burden of vascular diseases whether
centres, and participating countries.22 they are hypertensive or normotensive.
Prior to randomisation, 40% of participants were Achieving the objectives of the glucose control
receiving ACE inhibitor therapy and 5% were arm of ADVANCE, detecting a 16% reduction in the
receiving an angiotensin receptor blocker.22 At the two primary outcomes, was estimated to require
time of randomisation, 47% of participants were a 1% separation of HbAlc between the intensive
prescribed background perindopril (2 or 4 mg daily) therapy and standard therapy groups.21 Given that
and the proportion receiving open-label perindopril this arm of the study depends on comparison of two
has remained between 45 and 50% up to the present open treatment regimens, albeit randomised, the
point in follow-up. progressive awareness of the importance of tight
glucose control across the world will make it harder
Follow-up to achieve this separation. Thus the standard,
At the time of writing, approximately half of the guidelines-based regimens now recommended in
planned average follow-up of 4.5 years has been many parts of the world have more stringent targets
completed. Approximately 87% of randomised of HbAlc than they did when the study was planned.
participants are still adhering to the randomised On the other hand, there is some evidence that the
treatment regimen assigned (active or control) for predictions of risk based on HbAlc values in the
both the glucose control and the blood pressure UKPDS trial,15 used in our power calculations21 may
control arms of the trial. underestimate the strength of the association be-
tween the level of glycaemic control and cardiovas-
cular risk.16,17,27 Again it is hoped that the many
Discussion anticipated outcomes measures adopted to enhance the achievement of
the target HbAlc of 6.5% and target fasting blood
While the study is now only at the half-way mark glucose of 6 mmol/l, will result in a sufficient
in follow-up, it is anticipated that the successful separation between the intensive and standard
recruitment of over 11 000 participants from a treatment groups.
variety of ethnic groups and from clinical centres There are many ongoing trials investigating and
and countries with a broad range of treatment comparing the potential benefits of a variety of
practices will enhance the generalisability of the glucose control and blood pressure-lowering treat-
study results. ment regimens. One in particular is very pertinent in
Achieving the objectives of the blood pressure relation to ADVANCE. This is the ACCORD (Action
lowering arm of the study, detecting a 16% reduc- to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) trial.28
tion in the two primary outcomes, requires a Like ADVANCE, ACCORD is a factorial trial, but it
separation of at least 6 mmHg in the systolic blood has three arms, with all subjects participating in the
pressure achieved by the active therapy and the glycaemic control comparison between a target
control group during follow-up. This task is clearly HbAlc of 6% and a target of 7.5%, and subsets
made more difficult by the provision of background participating in a blood pressure-lowering arm or in
perindopril to around half of all participants to date, a lipid lowering comparison. Since ACCORD is

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A Patel et al
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planning to recruit at least 10 000 participants, and 8 Lievre M et al. Efficacy of diuretics and beta-blockers
since it should be completed a little after AD- in diabetic hypertensive patients. Results from a meta-
VANCE, there should be ample opportunity to pool analysis. The INDANA Steering Committee. Diabetes
the results and conduct a meta-analysis with even Care 2000; 23(Suppl 2): B65B71.
9 Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investi-
greater power to address some of the key questions, gators. Effects of ramipril on cardiovascular and
than will be possible for either trial alone. microvascular outcomes in people with diabetes
mellitus: results of the HOPE study and MICRO-HOPE
substudy. Lancet 2000; 355: 253259.
Conclusions 10 The EUROPA Investigators. Efficacy of perindopril in
The ADVANCE trial has satisfactorily completed its reduction of cardiovascular events among patients
with stable coronary artery disease: randomised,
recruitment, with 11 140 participants randomised by double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial.
March 2003. It is currently approximately half way Lancet 2003; 362: 782788.
in its planned follow-up phase that will average 11 Berthet K et al on behalf of the PROGRESS Collabora-
around 4.5 years for all participants. The study is tive Group. Reductions in the risks of recurrent stroke
progressing well and has the potential to answer in patients with and without diabetes: the PROGRESS
many critically important questions on the possible trial. Blood Pressure 2004; 13: 713.
benefits of tighter glucose control and of blood 12 Barnett AH et al. Angiotensin-receptor blockade
pressure lowering in reducing the burden of major versus converting-enzyme inhibition in type 2 dia-
vascular disease in patients with Type II diabetes. betes and nephropathy. N Engl J Med 2004; 351:
19521961.
13 Ruggenenti P et al. Preventing microalbuminuria in
type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 19411951.
Acknowledgements 14 Strippoli GFM et al. Effects of angiotensin converting
enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antago-
ADVANCE is an investigator-initiated and conducted nists on mortality and renal outcomes in diabetic
study supported by grants from the Institut de nephropathy: systematic review. BMJ 2004 Doi:10.1136/
Recherches International Servier, and the National BMJ.38237.585000.7C (published 30 September 2004).
Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. 15 Stratton IM et al. Association of glycaemia with
Conflict of interest macrovascular and microvascular complications of
John Chalmers has received grants from Servier as type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 35): prospective observational
Co-Principal Investigator for the PROGRESS and study. BMJ 2000; 321: 405412.
ADVANCE trials, administered by the University of 16 Selvin E et al. Meta-analysis: glycosylated hemoglobin
and cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus. Ann
Sydney. All three authors have received honoraria Intern Med 2004; 141: 421431.
from Servier for speaking at scientific meetings. 17 Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. Blood
glucose and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Asia
Pacific region. Diabetes Care 2004; 27: 28362842.
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