Efficacy and safety of benidipine therapy of essential hypertension in elderly Chinese patients.
BACKGROUND
Benidipine (CAS 105979-17-7) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy and safety of therapy with benidipine in elderly hypertensive patients.


METHODS
Chinese patients >60 years of age with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled. The patients were prescribed benidipine at the dose of 8 mg once daily for 12 weeks. Detailed laboratory examinations and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed before and after the treatment.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four of the 180 patients enrolled completed the 12-week active treatment phase. Sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reductions at the end of treatment were 21.50 +/- 12.83 and 10.60 +/- 8.04 mmHg, respectively; the proportion of patients showing a good treatment response was 95.1% for SBP and 96.9% for DBP. Benidipine significantly reduced the mean 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (p < 0.001 vs. baseline) exhibiting smooth, sustained effects and high trough-to-peak ratios (T/P ratio) (0.87 for SBP and 0.72 for DBP). Moreover, benidIpine significantly reduced the systolic morning blood pressure surge and urinary albumin, and it was well tolerated. No serious adverse events were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Benidipine was welltolerated and effective in elderly Chinese patients with essential hypertension.
Wang
Hai-Ya
HY
Geriatric Department Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, The People's Republic of China) why7848@hotmail.com
Wang
Chuan-Fu
CF
Pan
Zhi-Hong
ZH
Wu
Han
H
Zhong
Yuan
Y
Chen
Xian-Chuan
XC
Zhang
Shu-Hua
SH
Zhang
Hua
H
Fang
Ning-Yuan
NY
D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000378:metabolism; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004095:Dihydropyridines; C061004:benidipine