New weapon in heart attack war
THOUSANDS of Australians could be saved from fatal heart attack and stroke each year after a landmark international study. Experts say the study will revolutionise treatment of patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study of more than 25,000 patients from 40 nations, including 1347 Australians, found common blood pressure medications delivered cardiovascular health benefits far beyond controlling blood pressure.
The ONTARGET trial compared the effectiveness of a common type of blood pressure drug known as an ACE inhibitor, a newer class of drug known as an ARB, and the use of both drugs together in patients who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease but were otherwise healthy.
It found the newer drug, telmisartan, matched the older drug, ramipril, with fewer side-effects.
And using the drugs in combination, a popular approach in Australia, was found to be less effective and produced more side-effects and complications than using either drug in isolation.
Australian study co-ordinator Prof Garry Jennings, from the Baker Heart Research Institute, said the study would help curb the epidemic of cardiovascular disease by helping doctors prescribe more appropriate treatments.
He estimated the number of serious heart attacks and strokes would be slashed by 20 per cent, saving 10,000 lives in Australia each year.
Dr Judith Frayne, head of the Alfred hospital's stroke unit and one of 32 Australian doctors involved in the study, said most Australians were prescribed ramipril for cardiovascular disease.
But side-effects, including a persistent dry cough and sudden allergic reaction, meant it could not be tolerated by some patients.
Dr Frayne said that because telmisartan was found to be just as effective without the side-effects, patients were more likely to stick to the treatment.
"If you give patients a drug when they feel well to prevent something that might happen in the future and that drug causes side-effects, they tend to discontinue it," she said.
Telmisartan is sold in Australia as Micardis, and ramipril is sold as Tritace, Ramace and Altace.
A third of patients in the study were given daily doses of ramipril, another third took telmisartan and the final group took both drugs.
Results of the six-year trial, the largest of its kind, were released overnight at the American College of Cardiology Congress in Chicago and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Source: Kamahl CogdonMore News:
- New equipment approved for heart attack victims,
ago - ESL teacher dies of heart attack while driving car,
ago - Results are in on "ground-breaking" heart attack study,
ago - Vitamin B9 protects heart during and after heart attack,
ago - Blood pressure pill prevents heart attack,
ago - Dagga deadly after heart attack,
ago - Study Shows Drug-Coated Stents Safe Following Heart Attack,
ago - New weapon in heart attack war,
ago - Heart problems can surprise women,
ago - Coronary calcium scanning strongly predicts heart risk -- in all ethnicities, a study finds. But is it cost-effective?,
ago
Read all news...
-
New articles
-
Popular articles
Resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
How to help an unconscious with heart attack?
Prevent Heart Attack moving... in the bed - Free exercises
Calculate your BMI
Calculate your Body Mass Index, see if you are overweight or not
Download a Free ebook
Understand better Heart Attack in 20 articles. Download a copy now!
Heart disease statistics
1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack each year (that's 1 heart attack every 20 seconds)
Emergency numbers
Do not ignore chest pain or discomfort if you think you might have a Heart Attack. Find the emergency phone numbers worldwide .
Women and Heart Attack
Read more on heart attack in women
Heart Attack in pregnancy
Cholesterol
Where does cholesterol come from?
Heart Attack Risks
10 signs of heart attack
What are the risk factors of heart attack? [video]