The incidence of new-onset diabetes was reduced by 23% in the valsartan arm of the study. This clear and statistically significantly result (p=0.0001) is important data for valsartan as it suggests an active positive effect of valsartan on long-term glucose metabolism. Given that diabetes greatly increases the cardiac consequences of hypertension this result should be clearly communicated to providers as a positive for valsartan.
The valsartan treatment group also displayed a reduction in heart failure compared to the amlodipine group. The difference did not reach statistical significance but the trend was more pronounce in the second half of the study when BP was more similarly controlled in both groups. This result suggests a potential cardiac benefit for