Reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the elderly.

Candesartan cilexetil is highly effective at lowering blood pressure, whilst maintaining placebo-like tolerability, in a wide range of patient groups. Although the benefit of lowering blood pressure in elderly patients with moderate hypertension has been demonstrated in several large-scale clinical trials, elderly patients with mild hypertension have rarely been studied. The high incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality and morbidity, including dementia, in the elderly means that control of blood pressure is particularly important in this patient group. A major new international clinical trial - SCOPE (Study on COgnition and Prognosis in the Elderly) - has therefore been initiated. This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel comparison of the effects of candesartan cilexetil, 8 or 16 mg once daily, and placebo in about 5000 patients who will be followed for a mean of 2.5 years. SCOPE is the first study designed to assess the effect of antihypertensive therapy in elderly patients (70-89 years of age) with mild hypertension (sitting systolic blood pressure of 160-179 mmHg and/or sitting diastolic blood pressure of 90-99 mmHg). The primary objective of the study is to determine the effect of candesartan cilexetil on major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal stroke and myocardial infarction, and silent myocardial infarction), while an important secondary objective is to determine the effect of such treatment on the prevention of cognitive impairment. SCOPE should provide definitive evidence of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular benefits of treating mildly hypertensive elderly patients with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers, which not only reduce blood pressure, but may also provide significant protection from the negative effects of angiotensin II on target organs.