Safety and feasibility of achieving lower systolic blood pressure goals in persons with type 2 diabetes: the SANDS trial.

Author(s): Weir MR, Yeh F, Silverman A, Devereux RB, Galloway JM, Henderson JA, Howard WJ, Russell M, Wilson C, Ratner R, Sorkin J, Umans JG, Fleg JL, Stylianou M, Lee E, Howard BV

Affiliation(s): University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mweir@medicine.umaryland.edu

Publication date & source: 2009-10, J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)., 11(10):540-8.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

The Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study (SANDS) was a randomized open-label clinical trial in type 2 diabetics designed to examine the effects of intensive reduction of blood pressure, aggressive vs standard goals (< or =115/75 mm Hg vs < or =130/80 mm Hg), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on the composite outcome of change in carotid intimal-medial thickness and cardiovascular events. The study demonstrated that in conjunction with a lower LDL cholesterol target of 70 mg/dL, aggressive systolic blood pressure-lowering resulted in a reduction in carotid intimal-medial thickness and left ventricular mass without measurable differences in cardiovascular events. The blood pressure treatment algorithm included renin-angiotensin system blockade, with other agents added if necessary. The authors conclude that both standard and more aggressive systolic blood pressure reduction can be achieved with excellent safety and good tolerability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.