Multicentre comparison of the antihypertensive effect of acebutolol and hydrochlorothiazide in uncomplicated mild-moderate hypertension in the elderly.

To evaluate the efficacy of acebutolol, 400-600 mg/day in elderly hypertensive patients, and to compare it with hydrochlorothiazide 25-50 mg/day, 45 patients with mild-moderate uncomplicated hypertension were treated for 6 weeks in a multicentre, single-blind, randomized, crossover trial. Acebutolol decreased supine systolic blood pressure from 186.5 to 162.7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 107.4 to 92.4 mmHg. Hydrochlorothiazide decreased systolic blood pressure from 185.0 to 166.4 and diastolic blood pressure from 107.2 to 96.4. There was no difference between the effects of acebutolol and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure during the trial. Both drugs proved to be safe and effective antihypertensive agents, provided the major contraindications for their use were taken into account. Beta-blockade by acebutolol was highly effective in treating mild-moderate arterial hypertension in the elderly.