ACE Inhibitors Lower Pneumonia Threat

Patients who have had a stroke can ward off the risk of pneumonia withangiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. For the study, theresearchers evaluated the risk of pneumonia in >1000 patients who had hada stroke. The patients involved in the 35-month study were given 1 of 3 treatments:ACE inhibitors, other blood pressure drugs, or a placebo. The datashowed 2.8% of the ACE inhibitor group developed pneumonia, comparedwith 8.5% of the patients in the other 2 groups. (The findings were reportedin Neurology, February 9, 2005.)