"Machine-Learning Techniques Unlock Benefit Of Weight Loss For Type 2 Diabetes Patients"
Losing weight reduces the risk of long-term cardiovascular illness and mortality for the majority of patients with type 2 diabetes, but for a small subgroup, weight-loss intervention can lead to dramatically worse outcomes, according to new research. The Arnhold Institute for Global Health of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai research team, led by James H. Faghmous, PhD, chief technology officer at the Institute, reanalyzed data from the trial known as Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes). They found that, despite the overall null findings of the trial, 85 percent of the study sample did experience a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity from the trial's intensive weight loss intervention. "Our analysis demonstrates that recent advances in machine learning for causal inference can increase the quantity of clinically relevant findings generated from large randomized trials," said Aaron Baum, PhD, assistant professor of global health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "This research strengthens the role for data science and precision medicine as essential tools that can transform the way health care is delivered," said Prabhjot Singh, MD, PhD, director of the Arnhold Institute for Global Health and chair of the department of health system design and global health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Ronald Tamler, MD, associate professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai said “this analysis restores my faith in basic common sense, for the vast majority of people with diabetes, a healthy lifestyle with weight loss carriers significant benefits; however, it’s not for everyone.”
- James H. Faghmous, PhD, Assistant Professor, Population Health and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Chief, Technology Officer, The Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Aaron Baum, PhD, Assistant Professor, Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Prabhjot Singh, MD, PhD, Director, Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Chair, Department of Health System Design and Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Ronald Tamler, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, Mount Sinai Clinical Diabetes Institute
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