Evaluation of the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of moexipril, a new ACE inhibitor, compared to hydrochlorothiazide in elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the antihypertensive efficacy of moexipril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, to treatment with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).


METHODS
Two hundred and one non-hospitalized male and female patients between 65 and 80 years of age with essential hypertension.


METHODS
This was a multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with a parallel group design. Subjects with a sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 95 mmHg were randomized to monotherapy with placebo, moexipiril 7.5 mg o.d., moexipril 15 mg o.d. or HCTZ 25 mg o.d. for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
Throughout the study period treatment with moexipril and HCTZ resulted in significant reductions of DBP compared with placebo, but there were no significant differences between the active treatment groups. At end point the adjusted mean reductions were 10.5, 8.7 and 10.1 mmHg in the HCTZ, moexipril 7.5 mg and moexipril 15 mg groups, respectively, compared to 3.9 mmHg in the placebo group. Treatment with moexipril was associated with two cases of first dose hypotension and two cases of moderate and reversible increases in serum creatinine levels. Otherwise, both dosages of moexipril were well tolerated and the overall percentages of patients who had adverse experiences were smaller than in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Moexipril is well tolerated and is at least as effective as HCTZ in elderly patients with essential hypertension.
Persson
B
B
Department of Medicine, Sahlgren's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Stimpel
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011355:Prodrugs; D044005:Tetrahydroisoquinolines; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; C058302:moexipril