A 48-week study of amlodipine plus amiloride / hydrochlorothiazide vs. amlodipine plus telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension
International Journal of Clinical Practice, 07/23/2012
Clinical Article
Lu F et al. – Both combination regimens, amlodipine plus amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine plus telmisartan, were effective and safe for the high–risk hypertensive patients.
Methods- The authors reported the 48–week efficacy and tolerability of the two antihypertensive regimens in participants from Shandong Province, China.
- Eligible patients aged 50–79 years were randomised to receive amlodipine plus amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (Group A) or amlodipine plus telmisartan (Group B).
- The doses of both regimens were titrated and other antihypertensive agents were added subsequently to achieve a blood pressure (BP) goal (<140/90 mmHg for general population, <130/80 mmHg for diabetics and <150/90 mmHg for elderly).
- Efficacy variables included the changes of BP, control rates (the proportion of patients achieving a BP goal), and response rates (the proportion of patients achieving a BP goal or a reduction of BP ≥20/10 mmHg).
- Safety was assessed by monitoring the incidence of adverse events (AEs).
- Of the 349 patients enrolled, 314 were randomised and 291 completed the study (141 in Group A and 150 in Group B).
- At week 48, the BP was reduced by 28.77/15.55 mmHg in Group A and by 31.38/16.07 mmHg in Group B (p > 0.05 for comparisons between Group A and Group B).
- The control rates (71.79% vs. 77.22%; p = 0.270) and response rates (79.49% vs. 84.81%; p = 0.218) were also similar.
- For both regimens, the control rates in diabetic patients were relatively lower (31.91% and 32.50%), while those in elderly patients were pretty higher (90.74% and 97.62%).
- AEs were mild to moderate in severity (17.95% vs. 12.66%, p = 0.193).
