New Use For Popular Medication Offers New HOPE To Millions At Risk For Cardiovascular Disease And Stroke (NAPSA)—Millions of people 55 and over each year learn that they are at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Many of these people take medication to reduce blood pressure or cholesterol levels. The new research reveals, however, they can do even moreto reducetheir risk of having a heart attack or stroke or dying from cardiovascular disease. The HOPE Study, which examined more than 9,000 patients, showed that using a medication called Altace 10 mg reduced risk of stroke by 32 percent. Heart attack risk was reduced by 20 per- cent andrisk of death from cardiovascular causes was reduced by 26 percent. Patients in the study were 55 years of age or older and had a history of coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease or had diabetes and one other cardiovascular risk factor such as elevated blood choles- terol levels or cigarette smoking. “Based on the findings of HOPE, webelieve that if Altace is used in the appropriate patients, we could significantly reduce the number of strokes, heart attacks, and deaths from cardiovascular disease,” says James Young, M.D. a primary U.S. investigator in the HOPE Study from the Cleveland Clinic. “The results of the HOPE study send a clear message that we can do more to improve outcomes, even if we feel that we are adequately treating risk factors such as blood pressure andlipids.” Cardiovascular diseases are “Based on the findings of HOPE,webelieve thatif Altace is used in the appropriate patients, we could significantly reduce the numberof strokes, heart attacks, and deaths from cardiovascular disease,” says James Young, M.D. @ the number one cause of death in this country. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the numberone cause of adult disabil- ity in the United States. Medication may help. “Stroke affects at least 600,000 Americans and some studies have shown that it is as many as 750,000. About 150,000 of those individuals die each year of stroke,” said Edgar J. Kenton III, M.D., neurologist, American Stroke Association. The HOPE Study findings are a very important develop- ment in reducing the incidence of stroke in patients 55 and over who are at increased risk for these debilitating events. Based on the results of the HOPEstudy, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved Altace 10 mg asthefirst and only ACEinhibitor to reduce the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and death from cardiovascular causes in people 55 years or older at increased risk for such events. Note to Editors: Commonside effects with Altace can include headache, fatigue, dizziness, and dry cough. A less common side effect is angioedema (swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which may cause difficulty breathing). If you experience these or other side effects, contact your doctor. Do not take Altace if you are or become pregnant. It can cause fetal harm or death. Do not take Altace if hypersensitive to it or ifyou have experienced angioedemarelated to previous ACE inhibitor treatment.
