title: Effects of force-titrated valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide versus amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide on ambulatory blood pressure in patients with stage 2 hypertension: the EVALUATE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies using the combination of angiotensin-receptor blockers and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) have shown superior ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) reduction in study participants with stage 2 hypertension compared with monotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This multicenter, double-blind, parallel group, forced-titration study of individuals with stage 2 hypertension, compared the efficacy of valsartan and amlodipine in combination with HCTZ on ABP reduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a 2-week washout period, participants (n=482) with mean office sitting systolic BP >or=160 mmHg and <or=200 mmHg were randomized to receive treatment with either valsartan 160 mg (n=241) or amlodipine 5 mg (n=241), force-titrated to a maximum dose of valsartan/HCTZ 320/25 mg or amlodipine/HCTZ 10/25 mg over 6 weeks and continued through week 10. The primary endpoint was change in mean 24-h ambulatory systolic BP from baseline to week 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 10, changes from baseline in mean office BP were significantly (P<0.0001) decreased by both valsartan/HCTZ (-34.2/-14.2 mmHg) and amlodipine/HCTZ (-34.1/-14.7 mmHg). Changes from baseline in mean 24-h ABP were significantly (P<0.0001) decreased by both valsartan/HCTZ (-21.1/-12.5 mmHg) and amlodipine/HCTZ (-18.1/-9.9 mmHg). However, treatment with valsartan/HCTZ provided significant additional systolic BP (-3.8 mmHg; P=0.0042) and diastolic BP (-2.7 mmHg; P=0.0002) reduction compared with the amlodipine/HCTZ group. The proportion of individuals reaching the office goal BP (<140/80 mmHg) were similar in the valsartan/HCTZ (55.3%) versus amlodipine/HCTZ (54.9%) group, ABP control rates for the recommended ABP goal (<130/80 mmHg) were greater (P=0.0170) in the valsartan/HCTZ group (54.3%) than the amlodipine/HCTZ group (42.7%). Both treatments were well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of ABP monitoring but not office measurements, the fixed-dose combination of valsartan/HCTZ is a significantly more effective treatment regimen than amlodipine/HCTZ, with similar tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada. yves.lacourciere@crchul.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lacourcière
authors.forename: Jackson T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Dion
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zappe
authors.forename: Das
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Purkayastha
authors.forename: Henry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D013777:Tetrazoles; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D017311:Amlodipine; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine