What future studies are now being planned by the federal government regarding diet drugs and valvular heart disease?
The NIH and CDC are jointly supporting an echocardiographic study of persons who took these diet drugs along with a group of persons who did not take the drugs who are matched as to age, gender, body weight, and weight loss. In addition, there are plans to extend the follow-up of persons with cardiac valve problems to determine if these problems improve, worsen, or stay the same. It is likely that the study will last for another 6 to 12 months.
