E 12340

VETERANS’ ADMINISTRATION PHY-
SCIAN, EDWARD D. FREIS, M.D.
RECEIVES LASKER MEDICAL
AWARD FOR HYPERTENSION
CLINICAL RESEARCH

HON. OLIN E. TEAGUE

OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, November 17, 1971

Mr. TEAGUE of Texas. Mr. Speaker.
throughout the extensive VA hospital
system there are currently about 5,000
ongoing medical research projects to help
broaden man’s knowledge to help save
and prolong the lives of tens of thou-
sands of people.

Mr. Speaker, in New York on Thurs-
day, November 11, 1971, an outstanding
physician, Dr. Edward D. Freis of the
Veterans’ Administration's Department
of Medicine and Surgery, who is current-
ly on the staff of the Washington, D.C.
Veterans’ Administration Hospital, re-
ceived national recognition for achieve-
ments in medical research. At that time.
before an assembled group of many of
the leaders in American medicine and
health care, Dr. Freis was presented the
Clinical Research Award of the Albert
and Mary Lasker Foundation for his
work in demonstrating the lifesaving ef-
fectiveness of diagnosis and treatment
of one of the most common forms of
heart disease.

It is of interest to note that this highly
coveted award to biomedical researchers
was established in 1946, and that 22 win-
ners of this award have subsequently re-
ceived Nobel Prizes for their work.

The basis for the award to Dr. Freis.
and the method in which the research
was planned and carried out is an out-
standing example of the capacity of the
health care system of the Veterans’ Ad-
ministration to do what no other single
health care system or institution in
America can do. By utilizing the staff
and facilities of its 166 hospitals, 202
clinics, and 73 nursing homes, that sys-
tem has the unique capacity for cooper-
ative research. Through this system,
studies of the efficacy of the clinical use
of various professional techniques and/
or therapeutic drugs can be carried out
in the shortest possible time with a maxi-
mum of accuracy, a minimum of expense,
and be mare available for immediate
use. As a result, this knowledge can not
only be applied to the life-saving care
and treatment of veterans, but can sub-
sequently be made available to all people
through the scientific community of this
country and the world.

The following wording of the Citation

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of

awarded to Dr. Freis details his outstand-

ing achievement:

CLINICAL RESEARCH AWARD PRESENTED TO ED-
WARD D. FREIS, M.D. SENIOR MEDICAL INVESTI-
GATOR, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL,
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dr. Freis hag demonstrated the life-saving
effectiveness of the use of drugs in the treat-
ment of moderate hypertension, and the dra-
matic reduction of deaths from stroke and
congestive heart failure, which can be real-
ized when blood pressure is kept within
normal limits.

Hypertension--or hlgh blood pressure—is
® leading cause of stroke. Stroke, in turn,
kills over 200,000 Americans a year, and ts
the third leading cause of death in our coun-
try.

Hypertension
Americans,
problem

Dr. Freis has been working on hypertension
for over 25 years. His recent contribution has
been the deflnitive study and demonstration
of the fact that even moderate hypertension
is dangerous, and should, and can be treated
successfully.

In 1964, Dr. Freis, with hls colleagues in
the Veterans Administratton, set up the
V.A. Cooperative Study Group on Antihyper-
tensive Agents, for moderate hypertension.
The results of this five-year, 17-hospttal
study, established two major points:

1—That drug treatment for moderate hy-
pertension reduced the denth rate by more
than 50° |

2—That drug treatment is 67’: effective in
preventing major complications which arise
from cases of even moderately high blood
pressure. These complications include, among
others, strokes, congestive heart failure, and
kidney failure

Dr. Fries’ study offers a momentous oppor-
tunity to clinical medicine,

It is an exemplary demonstration of the
potential of preventive medicine for saving
and prolonging the llves of tens of thousands
of Americans. The results of this work Justily
his belief that with continued and intensive
efforts, we can control all of the major cardio-
vascular diseases—the number one killer of
our people

For. Dr. Freis’ dedication and persistent
leadership toward this goal, this 1971 Albert
Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award is
given.

affects almost 23 million
and is a major public health

It should also be noted with great
interest by those concerned with the
question of bridging the gap of scientific
knowledge between the laboratory and
the bedside, that Dr. Freis, in his ac-
ceptance speech, in the great tradition
of American medicine, called for a major
effort in this area. He stated:

Thank you on behalf of myself and al] of
those who have made thls advance against
hypertension possible. Amazingly the con-
quest of this most common of diseases has
received little public attention. Yet, if we
apply the knowledge we already have we can
control moderate hypertension now.

There are literally millions of Americans
who do not even know that they have high
blood pressure. There is, therefore, the need
to develop adequate mass screening for the
detection of hypertension as well as more
effective programs in public education.

How may these goals be achieved? Firstly,
by a greater effort on the part of national
and local governments to provide facilities
and personnel for the detection and treat-
ment of hypertension in the general popu-
lation. Secondly, the news media, such as
television, radio, newspapers and magazines
should publicize effectively the simple truth
hat hypertension now is a controllable dis-
ease. This is a real challenge for creative
journalism. Thirdly, volunteer health agen-
cies should actively lead and guide this effort.

Remarks November 17,.1971

The problem tis one of public education and
it is too big to be left entirely to the prac-
ticing physician,

There is:still another problem which re-
quires public attention. Although the drugs
we have today are good they are not ideal.
None is effective in all patienta and none is
entirely free of side effects. However, no new
anti-hypertensive drugs have been approved
by the Food and Drug Administration in the
past 10 years. This is in striking contrast to
the situation in Europe where several new
drugs have been introduced recently and are
being used with benefit by European physl-
cians. Becaue the American pharmaceutical
companies are finding that drug research in
hypertension is a frustrating and unprofit-
able enterprise, thelr great talents and know-
how are In large measure being directed {nto
other channels. Informed public opinion is
needed to restore a climate in the FDA where
new drug research in hypertension will be
encouraged rather than discouraged.

Recent surveys have shown that only 20%
of the patients with persistent hypertension
in the United States are receiving effective
treatment. This fact points up the real need
for mass screening and detectien of hyper-
tension in its early stages; for intensive pub-
Ile education: for provision of adequate treat-
ment facilities: and finaily, for a concerted
research effort to develop even more safe and
effective drugs than are available today.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this op-
portunity to publicly congratulate Dr.
Freis and the Veterans’ Administration
on this outstanding achievement, and I
hope that it will be possible to expand
these research programs in the future so
that this sreat work can be accelerated.