Trends in the management of arterial hypertension in patients with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of 10 years (1989/1990-1994/1995). Results of the JEVIN trial

SUMMARY: For populations of patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, information about the quality of blood pressure control, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, is widely lacking. Hence, it was the goal of the trial to evaluate the prevalence of arterial hypertension, the quality of blood pressure control and changes in treatment modalities over a period of 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 1989/1990, Jena's St. Vincent (JEVIN) Trial started as a prospective, population-based survey with 10-year follow-up of all patients with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 16 to 60 years and living in the city of Jena, Thuringia, Germany. RESULTS: In 1999/2000, 46 (40.4%) of 114 patients with type 1 and 104 (70.7%) of 147 patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes were on blood pressure-lowering drugs. Hypertension prevalence in the total population was 57.5%. It was higher in patients with insulin-treated type 2 than in type 1 diabetes (47.4% vs. 78.9%, P<.001). In 1999/2000, the number of patients with type 1, but also type 2, diabetes on blood pressure-lowering agents was higher than in 1994/1995 and 1989/1990. In the whole group, the mean blood pressure improved from 1989/1990 up to 1994/1995 and has remained constant up to the follow-up examination in 1999/2000. In 1999/2000, of those with arterial hypertension, blood pressure was higher than the 140/90-mm Hg target in 17.5% (20/114) of the patients with type 1 and in 42.2% (62/147) of the patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The JEVIN trial provides a useful population-based summary of the quality of blood pressure and metabolic control of patients with insulin-treated diabetes. Although the trial demonstrates an impressive improvement in the quality of blood pressure and metabolic control over the last decade, it also shows various problems: In many patients, both with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, a good blood pressure control (below 140/90 mm Hg) has not been achieved. Moreover, drug therapy, in particular concerning patients with overt nephropathy, is often inappropriate.