A major new study, just released, shows that the high blood pressure drug irbesartan (Aprovel) reduces kidney deaths by 20 percent in people with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
An estimated one million UK people with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure (the most common complication of the disease) have a much reduced chance of developing or dying of kidney disease, according to the results the study just released at a meeting of the American Society of Hypertension in San Francisco.
The study evaluated Aprovel in more than 1,700 people with Type 2 diabetes in centres around the world.
The incidence of Type 2 diabetes in the UK is expected to reach three million by the year 2010 partly due to an ageing population and increasing levels of obesity.
"Type 2 diabetes affects 1 million people in the UK, with a similar number who have diabetes but don't yet know it. The complications of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are potentially life threatening and have a huge impact on these patients' quality of life. We welcome the results of the PRIME study which will provide new evidence to help doctors improve the management of this challenging condition." Simon O'Neill, Head of Care Developments, Diabetes UK
"The PRIME programme will provide the first outcome evidence for the AIIRA class of drug in Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. It is the first study to give a complete picture of the potential benefits in both early and late stage renal disease. In addition, the research programme shows important comparator data against amlodipine, one of the most widely used anti-hypertensive treatments." Prof Rudy Bilous, Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne and UK lead investigator for the PRIME study.
NB 'Placebo' in the study refers to a control arm where patients were given antihypertensive medication to control blood pressure
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Contact: Linda Rose
linda.rose@shirehall.co.uk
44-0-207-313-6300
Shire Hall Communications
20-May-2001