Eprosartan mesylate effectively reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a Canadian primary care setting.

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that antihypertensive agents may have differential effects on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and that home BP monitoring (HBPM) may enhance the antihypertensive effects.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eprosartan mesylate in the treatment of hypertension, particularly on SBP in older subjects, and to assess the role of HBPM.

METHODS

A randomized, open-label, 10-week study was conducted in 35 primary care centres across Canada. One hundred ninety-eight subjects (aged 60 to 84 years) with mild to moderate hypertension (SBP 140 mmHg to 179 mmHg, diastolic BP [DBP] 109 mmHg or less) were included in the analysis. All subjects received open-label eprosartan mesylate 600 mg once daily, and were randomly assigned to eprosartan treatment alone or eprosartan plus HBPM. Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg once daily could be added after week 4. The primary outcomes were the change in SBP at study end and the effect of HBPM on SBP.

RESULTS

In the eprosartan and eprosartan plus HBPM groups, SBP was reduced by 17.6 mmHg and 19.9 mmHg, and DBP was reduced by 8.7 mmHg and 8.5 mmHg, with a systolic pressure response of 58% and 65%, respectively. HBPM had no additional benefits. Eprosartan was well tolerated, with the majority of adverse events being mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Eprosartan alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide was highly effective and safe in lowering blood pressure, notably SBP, in older subjects with mild to moderate hypertension.