Long-acting diltiazem CD is safe and effective in a hypertensive Mexican-American population.
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.
Herrera
C R
CR
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas-Houston, 77030, USA.
Lewin
A
A
Fiddes
R
R
Friedman
J
J
Linn
W
W
Baker
T
T
Balanoff
D
D
Beach
C L
CL
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
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004110:Diltiazem