title: Effect of an olmesartan medoxomil-based treatment algorithm on systolic blood pressure in patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated systolic BP (SBP) is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. SBP control reduces the occurrence of stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular and total mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the magnitude of SBP reductions and the achievement of individual SBP targets in the original BENIFORCE study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An olmesartan medoxomil-based treatment algorithm was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled titration study in 276 patients with stage 1 (47.1%) or 2 (52.9%) hypertension. After placebo run-in, patients were randomized to placebo (12 weeks) or olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg/day (weeks 1-3). Olmesartan medoxomil was uptitrated to 40 mg/day (weeks 4-6), then olmesartan medoxomil/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 40/12.5 mg per day (weeks 7-9), and olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ 40/25 mg per day (weeks 10-12) if BP remained ≥120/80 mmHg at any time interval.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BENIFORCE study was a multicenter (29 sites) study conducted between January and October 2007 in the US.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients receiving olmesartan medoxomil-based therapy, 81.0%, 67.2%, and 46.6% of patients with stage 1 hypertension and 70.4%, 49.4%, and 23.5% of patients with stage 2 hypertension achieved SBP targets of <140, <130, and <120 mmHg, respectively (all p < 0.01 vs placebo). The proportions of patients achieving SBP targets increased with escalating doses of olmesartan medoxomil and HCTZ, administered alone or in combination, and was highest for combination therapy. Similarly, escalating doses of olmesartan medoxomil or olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ increased the proportion of patients achieving SBP reductions of >15 but ≤30, >30 but ≤45, and >45 mmHg compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An olmesartan medoxomil-based treatment algorithm effectively reduced SBP and achieved SBP targets in patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension. This regimen resulted in >80% of patients achieving SBP reductions of ≥15 mmHg while 44% achieved SBP reductions of >30 mmHg.
authors.affiliation: The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Center/The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, USA. lindner@thechristhospital.com
authors.forename: Dean J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kereiakes
authors.forename: Jen-Fue
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Maa
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shojaee
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubiel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068557:Olmesartan Medoxomil; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D000068557:Olmesartan Medoxomil