Angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Potential in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.
Raised blood pressure in the elderly is not a normal consequences of aging, but is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cardiac and cerebrovascular disease account for > 50% of deaths among people aged > 65 years. Because the percentage of elderly people in most populations is rising, blood pressure control in this group is becoming increasingly important. Several large intervention studies in the elderly have demonstrated that antihypertensive medication reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, the absolute benefits of blood pressure reduction are higher in elderly compared with younger patients. ACE inhibitors are effective and well tolerated in the treatment of hypertension in the elderly. Their success led to interest in alternative ways of blocking the renin angiotensin system, and the subsequent development of angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists. Losartan was the first drug in this class to become commercially available. Since then, valsartan has been launched in some markets and others are likely to be launched in the near future. Losartan is effective in the treatment of essential hypertension and has a low incidence of adverse effects. First-dose hypotension is very uncommon and, at the present time, cough does not appear to be an adverse effect of these drugs, although long term tolerability studies are needed to confirm this. Angioedema, a rare but life-threatening adverse effect of ACE inhibitors, has also been associated with losartan. Current data suggest that All receptor antagonists are effective in elderly hypertensive patients, although further data are needed to confirm these findings. At present, All receptor antagonists are likely to be used in hypertensive patients who are intolerant of ACE inhibitors, although this may change with the availability of long term tolerability and clinical outcomes data.
Burrell
L M
LM
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. burrell@austin.unimelb.edu.au
Johnston
C I
CI
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D019808:Losartan; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068756:Valsartan
D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine; D019808:Losartan