Effect of long-acting nifedipine on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with symptomatic stable angina and hypertension: the ACTION trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of nifedipine GITS on clinical outcome in patients with concurrent stable angina and hypertension.


METHODS
Data from the double-blind placebo-controlled ACTION trial was stratified for hypertension (blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg), at baseline.


RESULTS
A total of 52% of 7665 ACTION patients were hypertensive. Some 80% were on a beta blocker; hypertensives were more often treated with other blood pressure-lowering drugs. Mean baseline blood pressure was 122/74 mmHg among normotensives and 151/85 mmHg among hypertensives. Follow-up blood pressures were reduced by nifedipine (P < 0.001) on the average by 3.9/2.4 and 6.6/3.5 mmHg among normotensives and hypertensives, respectively. Nifedipine GITS significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the combined incidence of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, refractory angina, heart failure, stroke and peripheral revascularization by 13% in hypertensives only. Nifedipine significantly reduced the incidence of any stroke or transient ischemic attack by almost 30% in both subgroups and the need for coronary angiography by 21% in normotensives and 16% in hypertensives. Among hypertensives, the incidence of new overt heart failure was significantly reduced by 38% and of debilitating stroke by 33%. Among normotensives, the need for coronary bypass grafting was significantly reduced by 32%. Nifedipine did not affect all-cause death, cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction in either normo- or hypertensives, but increased the need for peripheral revascularization.


CONCLUSIONS
The salutary effects of the addition of nifedipine GITS to the basic regimen of patients with concurrent stable symptomatic coronary artery disease and hypertension emphasize the need for blood pressure control.
Lubsen
Jacobus
J
SOCAR Research SA, Nyon, Switzerland. jlubsen@compuserve.com
Wagener
Gilbert
G
Kirwan
Bridget-Anne
BA
de Brouwer
Sophie
S
Poole-Wilson
Philip A
PA
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine