title: Long-acting diltiazem CD is safe and effective in a hypertensive Mexican-American population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of diltiazem CD for reducing blood pressure in Mexican-American patients with mild to moderate hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve clinical sites in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with baseline diastolic blood pressures between 95 and 115 mm Hg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated with an average daily dose of diltiazem CD 246 mg (60 patients) or placebo (58 patients) to achieve a trough diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diltiazem CD significantly reduced mean diastolic blood pressure compared with placebo, -8.2 versus -4.1 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.0025). Diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg or a reduction of 10 mm Hg or more was achieved by 57% of diltiazem CD versus 28% of placebo recipients. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were also reduced with diltiazem CD. Adverse events were mild, with similar frequency for diltiazem CD (15%) and placebo (19%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diltiazem CD is safe and effective in hypertensive Mexican-Americans, and diastolic blood pressure reductions compare with those in non-Hispanic white patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas-Houston, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiddes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balanoff
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Beach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004110:Diltiazem