The research of a Christchurch scientist has been picked up by an internationally acclaimed medical journal.

Suetonia Palmer has spent months collating information on which blood pressure treatment was most effective for patients with diabetes and kidney disease, and she's over the moon medical journal 'Lancet' has published an article on her study in its latest issue.

"Lancet is one of the very top journals in the world that does publish ground breaking research and they tend to pick up things that make a difference to people."

Palmer works as a nephrologist, or kidney specialist, at the Canterbury District Health Board and has seen first-hand how confusing the wide range of treatment options can be for patients, and those who treat them.

Palmer asserts this study is important because diabetes and kidney disease are at epidemic proportions in New Zealand.

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of kidney disease around the world, and people often have both.

 

The paper is the first to compare all drug options, and combinations of commonly used drugs, against each other.

Palmer adds the article will open the research up to a doctors and medical professionals all over the world.