The effect of antihypertensive drugs and drug combinations on the incidence of new-onset type-2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of antihypertensive drugs on new-onset type-2 diabetes.


METHODS
This was a cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Patients newly diagnosed with hypertension between 1991 and 2001, and treated with antihypertensive drugs, were included. Type-2 diabetes mellitus was identified based on a physician diagnosis or an anti-diabetic drug prescription. Antihypertensive treatments were classified as: ACE inhibitors (ACE-Is), beta blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCB), thiazides, all other drugs, and their combinations.


RESULTS
A total of 2706 incident diabetes cases were identified in 98 629 hypertensive patients during 307 356 patient years (8.8/1000 patient years). New-onset diabetes was lower for ACE-I regimens compared with non-ACE inhibitor regimens (HR = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.82-0.99). CCB monotherapy (HR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.07-1.51) had an increased risk of diabetes compared with ACE-I monotherapy. ACE-I plus thiazide had the lowest risk of diabetes among double combinations, followed by ACE-I plus beta blocker, and ACE-I plus CCB. Double combinations with an ACE-I had 0.79 (95%CI: 0.67-0.92) times the risk compared with non-ACE inhibitor combinations. The risk of new-onset diabetes was significantly higher for beta blocker plus thiazide (HR = 1.37; 1.10-1.70), CCB plus thiazide (HR = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.13-1.83), but not beta blocker plus CCB (HR = 1.30; 95%CI: 0.99-1.70) compared with ACE-I plus thiazide.


CONCLUSIONS
Antihypertensive drug combinations including an ACE-I had a significantly lower risk of new-onset diabetes than antihypertensive drug combinations without an ACE-I.
Burke
Thomas A
TA
Epidemiology Department, School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), NJ, USA. thomas_burke2@embarqmail.com
Sturkenboom
Miriam C
MC
Ohman-Strickland
Pamela A
PA
Wentworth
Charles E
CE
Rhoads
George G
GG
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D049971:Thiazides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D049971:Thiazides