A clinical trial suggests that diabetics on losartan may have a reduced risk of sudden cardiac death compared to those on a beta blocker.

The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study which reported earlier this year seemed to indicate that the drug was beneficial for those with diabetes. Specifically, people with diabetes who also had left ventricular hypertrophy - enlarged heart - had reduced mortality from all causes, particularly heart disease.

A later analysis, from Swedish researchers, of 1195 patients in the LIFE study now shows that 44 patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy died of sudden cardiac death. Fewer deaths arose among those treated with losartan (14 out of 586) than among those treated with atenolol (30 out of 609). Losartan is one of a class of drugs called angiotensin 2 receptor blockers, used to lower the blood pressure.

These results are preliminary, the researchers stress. What is now needed are trials that compare losartan with other beta blockers, like propanolol and carvedilol.

Source

The Lancet 23rd August 2003