title: Antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of different drug regimens in isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly.
abstract: The pharmacological treatment, mainly based on diuretics, of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) has recently been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to compare the antihypertensive effect and tolerability of different drug regimens in elderly subjects with ISH (systolic blood pressure--SBP-- > or = 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure--DBP-- < 90 mmHg). A multicentre, randomized, controlled open trial was planned in the general practice setting. Four widely used treatment schedules were tested: hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg (H+Am), nifedipine slow release 20 mg (N), atenolol 50 mg (At) and atenolol 25 mg plus chlorthalidone 6.25 mg (At+C). After a baseline evaluation, 308 patients (76.3% female, mean age 75.3 +/- 7.1 years) were randomized and followed up for 6 months. After 3 months the drug dosage was doubled if the systolic blood pressure goal (SBP < 160 mmHg and SBP reduction of at least 20 mmHg) had not been reached. Ninety-four subjects (30.5%) presented contraindications to beta-blockers. At the 3rd- and 6th-month visits all treatment groups, except At, showed a significant reduction in SBP compared to the control group; DBP showed no significant reduction in any group at any time. At the end of the follow-up the percentage of hypertensives who had reached the BP goal was 14.6% in the control group, 52.9% in H+Am, 54.8% in N, 28.6% in At and 52.2% in At+C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bettelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radice
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognoni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000584:Amiloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002752:Chlorthalidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; C035884:atenolol, chlortalidone drug combinations; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D001262:Atenolol; C010247:amiloride, hydrochlorothiazide drug combination; D000584:Amiloride; D009543:Nifedipine; D002752:Chlorthalidone