| Blood pressure drugs improve survival
for diabetics
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The use of blood pressure drugs called
ACE inhibitors, such as Accupril and Zestril, improves survival
in diabetics without heart disease, Canadian researchers report
in the medical journal Diabetes Care.
In fact, senior investigator Dr. Jeffery A. Johnson said that the
study "provides support for what may be a common current medical
practice." Many physicians "are already initiating ACE
inhibitors in 'lower risk' patients with type 2 diabetes as the
perception is that these agents are beneficial."
Johnson and colleagues, from the University of Alberta, Edmonton,
combed health databases in Saskatchewan to identify patients with
type 2 diabetes, but without heart disease. Of the more than 9000
patients identified, 1187 were recent users of ACE inhibitors. Nearly
5000 patients who were not using these drugs served as a comparison
group.
The average age of the subjects was 61 years and they were followed
for around 5 years. On average, patients in the ACE inhibitor group
used these drugs for 3.6 years.
During follow-up, 9 percent of ACE inhibitor users died, nearly
half the percentage seen in non-users--17 percent. In particular,
heart attack- and stroke-related deaths were less common in the
ACE inhibitor group.
Thus, Johnson concluded, "our study helps to provide evidence
to support this practice and suggests that starting ACE inhibitors
relatively early may provide substantial benefits."
SOURCE: Diabetes Care, June 2004.
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