title: [Antihypertensive therapy in diabetes mellitus: Guidelines of the Austrian Diabetes Association 2016].
abstract: Blood pressure lowering is one of the most important interventions for reducing the vascular complications and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. Recent studies indicate that the optimal blood pressure level might be in the range between 130-140 mmHg systolic and 80‒90 mmHg diastolic. Lower blood pressure levels (e.g. 120/80 mmHg) can further reduce the risk for stroke and diabetic nephropathy, but are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. In particular, very low blood pressure levels (< 120 mmHg) should be avoided in patients with coronary heart disease or peripheral arterial disease. Most patients with diabetes mellitus need antihypertensive combination therapies, whereby ACE-inhibitors or Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists should be first line drugs.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Abteilung, Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Wien, Österreich. guntram.schernthaner@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Guntram
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schernthaner
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Kardiologie, Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Österreich.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drexel
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Nephrologie, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Graz, Graz, Österreich.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Angiologie, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin II, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Gerit-Holger
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Schernthaner
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Nephrologie und Dialyse, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin III, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watschinger
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001317:Austria; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Antihypertensive therapy; Blood pressure lowering; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic nephropathy; Myocardial infarction; Peripheral arterial disease; Stroke