Pulse wave velocity as endpoint in large-scale intervention trial. The Complior study. Scientific, Quality Control, Coordination and Investigation Committees of the Complior Study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ability of an antihypertensive therapy to improve arterial stiffness as assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in a large population of hypertensive patients.


METHODS
Sixty-nine healthcare centres, private and institutional (19 countries).


METHODS
Subjects aged 18-79 years, with essential hypertension. A total of 2,187 patients were enrolled; 1,703 (52% male) completed the study: mean age = 50 +/- 12 years; mean baseline systolic/diastolic blood pressure (S/D BP) = 158 +/- 15/98 +/- 7 mmHg; mean baseline carotid-femoral PWV = 11.6 +/- 2.4 m/s.


METHODS
Patients were treated for 6 months, starting with perindopril (angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor) 4 mg once daily (OD), increased to 8 mg OD, and combined to diuretic (indapamide 2.5 mg OD) if BP was uncontrolled (> 140/90 mmHg).


RESULTS
It was feasible to measure carotid-femoral PWV using the automatic device Complior at inclusion, 2 and 6 months, along with conventional BP assessments in a population of 1,703 patients. Significant decreases (P < 0.001) in BP (systolic: -23.7 +/- 16.8, diastolic: -14.6 +/- 10 mmHg), and carotid-femoral PWV (-1.1 +/- 1.4 m/s) were obtained at 2 and 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The Complior Study is the first study to show the feasibility of a large-scale intervention trial using PWV as the endpoint in hypertensive patients. Adequate results may be obtained using an automatic device and rigorous criteria for assessment. A long-term controlled intervention study is needed to confirm the results of the present uncontrolled trial.
Asmar
R
R
L'Institut CardioVasculaire, Paris, France. ra@icv.org
Topouchian
J
J
Pannier
B
B
Benetos
A
A
Safar
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001331:Automation; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004548:Elasticity; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007190:Indapamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020913:Perindopril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011674:Pulse; D013997:Time Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007190:Indapamide; D020913:Perindopril