Sanofi-aventis To Report Data For SITE Study

Sanofi-aventis is due to announce the results of cross-sectional study of ‘SITE’ (Screening India’s Twin Epidemic). The objective of the study was to quantify and instill awareness amongst medical professionals and patients on twin epidemic of diabetes and hypertension.

SITE is a multicentric, non randomised, observational study, which collects information on the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension cases in out-patient clinics in Indian and to understand the risk associated with these patients.

The study involved 20,000 patients 1,000 centres in India. The study involves sites in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, New Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.

The study was initiated in January, 2009 in Maharastra and is expected to be completed in December 2010. The study involves wide variety of people, including businessmen, working professionals and housewives, mainly in metro cities, aged 18 years and above.

The study will take care of different parameters; medical history, family history, diet, demographic data (height, weight, waist and hip circumference), blood pressure, pulse, treatment history and fasting blood test for lipids, glucose, (including HbA1c) and urine for proteins.

Muruga Vadivale, senior director of medical and regulatory affairs at Sanofi-aventis India, said: “With India having the largest number of diabetic patients in the world, the disease is posing an enormous health as well as economic problem to the country. The sanofi-aventis SITE study reinforces our commitment to an in-depth involvement in one of India’s key public health issues and in creating awareness about the dormant twin epidemic waiting to explode.

“We hope to provide medical professionals with valuable insights on the twin epidemic of Diabetes and Hypertension. We also want to create awareness amongst them and patients about screening for these diseases at the earliest.”