Choosing an angiotensin-receptor blocker: blood pressure lowering, cardiovascular protection or both?

Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) offer superior tolerability to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and are increasingly used in patient management. ARBs vary in their pharmacological profiles, which results in efficacy differences. Therefore, deciding between ARBs should be evidence-based and related to the specific requirements of the individual patient. For patients with hypertension but at low additional risk, an ARB that provides sustained, powerful 24-h reductions in blood pressure is suitable. For patients at very high additional risk (with heart failure), an ARB with demonstrated efficacy in this patient population is the preferred option. For patients at increased risk, telmisartan should be the ARB of choice based on the results from the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET), which demonstrated for the first time that an ARB has equivalent protection to the reference angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in a broad cross-section of at-risk patients but a better side-effect profile.