Harvard Health Content API

Most people who are prescribed two specific types of blood pressure drugs don’t need that combination. In fact, it can be harmful for them, a study finds. The study included more than 32,000 people over age 65. All took medicine for high blood pressure. Some took an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Some took an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). About 5% took both drugs. Taking both drugs is known to benefit people with very specific medical problems. Most people in the study who took both drugs did not have these problems. This study confirmed that the combination can harm other people. Those who continued to take both drugs had higher rates of kidney failure, end-stage renal disease and death than people who took one drug. But most of those taking both drugs quit within 3 months. Researchers said it may have been because of very low blood pressure.

A blood test may help to find out years ahead of time which people are most likely to develop diabetes, researchers say. The study included 2,422 people. They were part of the long-term Framingham Heart Study. Blood tests were taken when they entered the study. Researchers kept track of them for about 12 years. In that time, 201 developed type 2 diabetes. Leaders of the new study checked those early blood tests for metabolites. These are chemicals released as the body burns calories for energy. The study compared blood samples of people who developed diabetes and 189 others who did not. The diabetes group had higher levels of 5 amino acids. These are the building blocks of proteins. Researchers also compared the groups in other ways. They looked at age, weight and other things that affect diabetes risk.