Diabetes with hypertension medical therapy


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org];

Overview
Hypertension is a common co-morbidity associated with patients of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes.Co-existence of these conditions strongly predispose patients to both renal as well as cardiovascular (CV) injury. Diabetes is the commonest cause of end-stage renal disease in the United States. The 1994 Working Group Report on Hypertension and Diabetes, has recommended the original blood pressure goals of less than 130/85 mmHg to preserve renal function and reduce cardiovascular events in these groups of patients.

Supportive trial data
===Study name:LIFE study, 2002 ===
 * Study design: Double blinded, randomised, parallel-group trial
 * Sample size: 1195 patients with diabetes, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy (on electrocardiograms)
 * Study drugs: Losartan or Atenolol
 * Study period: 4 years
 * Study results: Losartan was found to be more effective than atenolol in reducing composite endpoints like cardiovascular morbidity and all causes mortality in patients with hypertension, diabetes, and left-ventricular hypertrophy.

===Study name:Candesartan and Lisinopril microalbuminuria (CALM) study, 2000 ===


 * Study design: Double blinded, prospective, randomised, parallel-group, multicenteric (4 countries, 37 centers) trial
 * Sample size: 199 patients with diabetes & hypertension
 * Study drugs: Candesartan or lisinopril
 * Study period:
 * Placebo run in period-4 weeks
 * 12 weeks Candesartan or lisinopril
 * Followed by 12 weeks' monotherapy or combination treatment
 * Study question: Compare the effects of candesartan or lisinopril, or both, on blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
 * Study results: Candesartan was found to be as effective as lisinopril in reducing blood pressure and microalbuminuria in hypertensive type 2 diabetics. Combination treatment (Candesartan+lisinopril) was well tolerated and more effective in reducing blood pressure compared to either drugs alone.

===Study name:Fosinopril Versus Amlodipine Cardiovascular Events Randomized Trial, (FACET), 1998 ===
 * Study design: Open label, randomized trial
 * Sample size: 380 hypertensive diabetics patient
 * Study drugs: Fosinopril (20 mg/day) or amlodipine (10 mg/day)
 * Study period: 3.5 years
 * Inclusion criteria- NIDDM and hypertension (SBP > 140 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg).
 * Exclusion criteria- History of coronary heart disease or stroke, serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl, albuminuria > 40 micrograms/min, and use of lipid-lowering drugs, aspirin, or antihypertensive agents other than beta-blockers or diuretics.
 * Study results: Fosinopril lowered the risk of the composite endpoints of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization due to angina more compared to amlodipine (hazards ratio = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.26-0.95). However, no significant difference in total serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, HbA1c, fasting serum glucose, or plasma insulin was found.