What is the effect of diuretic-based antihypertensive treatment on cardiovascular disease risk in older diabetic patients with isolated systolic hypertension?
The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) Cooperative Research Group found that diuretic-based antihypertensive treatment was effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in older diabetic patients with isolated systolic hypertension. The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1996, showed that those patients who received diuretic-based treatment had a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and total cardiovascular disease compared to those who did not receive the treatment.  Additionally, the study found that treatment with diuretic-based medications was associated with improved quality of life and lower mortality rates.  