Socio-economic status and the therapeutic effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment--the design of the LEO study.
OBJECTIVE
The risk of arterial hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality increases with low socio-economic status (SES). Even small differences in blood pressure, whether untreated or despite treatment, account for this substantial difference. Most of the increased risk in the low socio-economic group is due to traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption and a sedentary life style. Intense treatment of arterial hypertension has been shown to overcome these prognostic inequalities. Therefore, drugs with high efficacy, optimal treatment adherence and a low potential for drug-related side effects are needed in order to reduce the cardiovascular risk burden of patients with a low SES. The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan will be used to investigate the effectiveness of this drug in different socio-economic classes.


METHODS
The LEO (Long-term Effectiveness of Olmesartan in different Socioeconomic groups) study is a large observational long-term study which has been set up to test the effectiveness of olmesartan within this context. The study has a matched-pairs design (1403 patients in both the low and the high socio-economic classes).


METHODS
The LEO study will test whether this regimen can reduce the SES-related difference in long-term blood pressure control and compliance in the low SES population.


CONCLUSIONS
The study may generate valuable information about the antihypertensive effectiveness of olmesartan alone or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide in different socio-economic classes. It will further test whether the drug helps to reduce the inherent inequalities in cardiovascular prognosis between different socio-economic groups.


RESULTS
The study commenced in July 2007. Results are anticipated in December 2008.
Schmidt
A C
AC
Charité-Universitaetsmedizin, Department of Internal Medicine, Outpatient Clinic, Berlin, Germany. andre.schmidt@charite.de
Bramlage
P
P
Lichtenthal
A
A
Eckert
M
M
Scholze
J
J
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012107:Research Design; D012923:Social Class
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents