The FDA has approved a new use for the antihypertensive drug ramipril (brand name Altace): to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes.

It is recommend for use in people 55 years or older who are at high risk for developing a major cardiovascular event because of a history of:

• coronary artery disease
• stroke
• peripheral vascular disease, or
• diabetes

and who also have another cardiovascular risk factor such as:

• hypertension
• cigarette smoking
• elevated total cholesterol levels
• low HDL level, or
• proteinuria.

The new use was approved after the drug showed it could reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events over a 5-year period in a large study, called the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study. It may be used in addition to other treatment.