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Page 8 -T h e Portland Observer—July 10, 1991
in ta n i CARE 1991
A PO RTLAND
OBSERVER
S P E C IA L
E D IT IO N
National Study Shows Drug Treatment Can
Reduce Strokes And Heart Attacks In Older
Persons With Systolic Hypertension
OF HEALTH
Toll-Free Patient
Referral Line
Free hospital care for a sick child
can be only a phone call away.
risk of stroke, as well as an increased risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure
and
heart attack.
Elderly black women are twice as
SHEP indicates that theses risks can be significantly reduced through treat
likely as elderly white men and
ment
with low doses of an antihypertiensive drug called chlorthalidone. Partici
women to have a type of high
pants in the study who received this drug had a 36-percent lower incidence of
blood pressure called Isolated
systolic hypertension. But a
fatal and nonfatal strokes than those given a placebo. Those in the drug treatment
recently completed five-year study
group also had a 32-perccnt lower incidence of major cardiovascular problems,
conducted at Kaiser Permanente's
including heart attacks.
Center for Health Research In
The study, co-sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Portland and at 15 other sites
(NHLBI)and the National Institute on Aging, involved4,736participants across
nationwide showed that a
the nation. The mean age of study participants was 72 years; 57 percent were
medication called chlorthalidone
woman, 43 percent were men. Fourteen percent of the participants were black.
can control isolated systolic
Over a two-year period, CHR staff screened nearly 48,000 people in the
hypertension. According to
Portland
area to find participants who could meet the eligibility requirements.
Thomas Vogt, MD, who was
Of
these,
233 became participants and were randomly assigned to a treatment
principal investigator for the study
group
or
a
placebo group. Follow-up of all participants lasted five years.
in Portland, "Chlorthalidone,
Key personnel for the study at Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health Re
which costs consumers less than
$2 a month, was shown to reduce
search in Portland were Thomas M. Vogt, MD, principal investigator; Merwyn
the rate of stroke by 36 percent. ”
R. Grcenlick, PhD, co-principal investigator and CHR director; Adrianne Feld
That's good news for northeast
stein, MD, who was medical director for the study; and Victoria Wegener, RN,
Portland resident Theresa
project director.
Richardson, above, who was one
“ The results of SHEP arc one of the most eagerly awaited findings from
of more than 230 Portland-area
clinical trials in the last two decades,’’ says Grecnlick. “ Isolated systolic hyper
residents Involved In the study.
tension is a major cause of death and disability among large numbers of elderly
Theresa Richardson
Americans. These results clearly point out the importance and benefit of treating
illions of elderly Americans who have a common specific type of high blood pressure may
this condition with antihypertensive drugs.”
receive different medical treatment as the result of a national study participated in by Kai
According to Dr. Feldstein, the SHEP results, “ will have a major impact on the medical treatment
ser Permanente’s Center for Health Research (CHR) in Pordand. The CHR was one of 16
of this condition. Up to now there has been no medical agreement about how to treat isolated systolic
sites nationwide, and the only site in the Northwest, involved in a seven-year clinical trial
hypertension. SHEP is the first trial to test the hypothesis that low doses of antihypertensive drugs
called the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Results of that study were published
reduce the risk of strokes and cardiovascular conditions in people with this kind of high blood pressure.
June 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The results are clearly positive. The study showed treatment had no apparent adverse side effects.”
SHEP shows drug treatment helps prevent strokes and heart attacks in older persons who have a
Kaiser Permanente is a prepaid group practice health maintenance organization serving the health
type of high blood pressure known as isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Some three million
care needs of about 370,000 people in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. The CHR,
Americans over age 60 have this condition, a number expected to rise to eight million in the next 35
founded in 1964 as a not-for-profit research institute, conducts research in several major areas, includ
years. Blood pressure is reported with two numbers. The upper number is systolic blood pressure. The
ing epidemiological studies and clinical trials; studies on health behavior, research methods, and the
lower is diastolic blood pressure. People with isolated systolic hypertension have a systolic pressure
use of medical care services; and testing of innovations in health care organization, financing, and
greater than 160 and a diastolic pressure less than 90. These people have a two-to-three times higher
delivery.
M
VETERANS
YOU ARE INVITED TO A HEALTH FAIR
TO INTRODUCE
YOU TO THE:
S uriwal
O f T he
A telephone operator can help
you get needed care for a burned
or crippled child.
Shriners Hospitals for Crippled
Children has toll-free telephone
numbers parents or legal guardians
can call to get an application for a
child’s admission to a Shriner Hos
pital for an orthopaedic or burn-
related condition. These free tele
phone lin es can also p rovide
information about Shriners Hospi
tals and the types of conditions they
treat. The telephone lines are open
Monday through Friday, from 8 am .
until 5 p.m., Eastern Standard/Day-
light Time. These are information
lines only and not to be called for
emergencies.
When someone calls one of the
toll-free patient referral numbers,
the operator will ask several basic
questions about the caller and the
child. An application is then sent
out. The application is processed
and reviewed by the H ospital’s
Board of Governors, who will deter
mine the family’s financial eligibil
ity. All care and treatm ent provided
to children at Shriners Hospitals is
free of charge. If you know of a child
the Shriners Hospitals can help or
would like to learn more about the
hospitals, call toll-free: 1-800-237-
5055. (In Florida, call 1-800-282-
9161, or in Canada, call 1-800-361-
7256.)
You're more likely to survive
on Oregon's roads if your
safety belt is fitted properly.
"FITNESS FOR LIFE
PROGRAM"
WHERE:
AUDITORIUM
VA MEDICAL CENTER
3710 S.W. U.S. VETERANS HOSPITAL
PORTLAND, OREGON
WHEN:
ROAD
JULY 25, 1991
I f the belt has more
than about one
inch o f slack,
pull on it
gently and
let go until
you have
the right fit. •
6:30 PM- 9:00 PM
6:30 PM - DISPLAYS
AND REFRESHMENTS
7:00 PM - PROGRAM:
Keep the shoulder
belt snug across
your chest,
never under
your arm
or behind
your back.
I
I
"REDUCING YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE
THE HEART OF THE MATTER"
SPEAKER: DR. MINOT CLEVELAND
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
DIRECTOR, FITNESS FOR LIFE PROGRAM
TO BE FOLLOWED BY FREE:
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
"LUNG AGE" DETERMINATION
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK
HEALTH INFORMATION
AND MORE
COME JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND
THERE IS NO COST FOR THIS EVENT
Wear your safety
belt low and snug
over the bony
part o f your
pelvis.
\ \ R O \G :
RIGHT:
Can cause
internal
injuries
Saves lives.
Under arm
PLEASE CALL TO LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL BE THERE
(503) 272-5294
Tot) high
B uckle U p .
I t ' s T he L aw .
Oregon Traffic Safety Commission
1 800-922-2022
Snug
across
shoulder
Low across hips