Warning on diabetes blood pressure treatment

Thursday February 25th, 2016

Some people with diabetes may suffer harm from intensive blood pressure treatment, Swedish researchers warn today.

According to the analysis, intensive treatment is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular death when a patient with type 2 diabetes has a systolic blood pressure of less than 140 mm Hg.

Researchers at Umeå University have reported their findings in The BMJ.

The findings come from a systematic review and meta-analyses of literature, involving published studies and some unpublished data.

The study found that for patients with systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg, treatment was linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death.

The researchers say the studies almost exclusively involved patients with type 2 diabetes.

Researcher Mattias Brunström said: ”In practice, it is important to remember that under-treatment of high blood pressure is a bigger problem than overtreatment.

“Many treatment guidelines, both Swedish and international, will be redrawn in the next few years. It has been discussed to recommend even lower blood pressure levels for people with diabetes – maybe as low as 130.

"We are hoping that our study, which shows potential risks of such aggressive blood pressure lowering treatment, will come to influence these guidelines.”

Effect of antihypertensive treatment at different blood pressure levels in patients with diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analyses. Mattias Brunström and Bo Carlberg. BMJ 25 February 2016; doi: 10.1136/bmj.i717

Tags: Diabetes | Europe | Heart Health

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