title: Eprosartan-based hypertension therapy, systolic arterial blood pressure and cognitive function: analysis of Middle East data from the OSCAR study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have indicated a relationship between hypertension and cognitive function. The possible effect of antihypertensive therapy on cognitive disorders is therefore a matter of interest.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Observational Study on Cognitive function And SBP Reduction (OSCAR) was an open-label, multinational trial designed to evaluate the impact of eprosartan-based antihypertensive therapy on cognitive function in patients with essential hypertension. Eprosartan 600 mg/day for 6 months (with provision for additional medication as needed) was initiated in hypertensive subjects aged ≥ 50 years. A total of 853 patients in an intention-to-treat cohort from seven countries of the Middle East was identified for subgroup analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arterial blood pressure was reduced significantly (P < 0.001) during the study: At the end of 6 months of eprosartan-based therapy, the mean (±SD) reduction from baseline was 32.1 ± 14.3/14.6.3 ± 8.6 mmHg (P < 0.001). Mean pulse pressure was reduced by 18.3 ± 13.1 mmHg (P < 0.0001 vs baseline). Blood pressure was normalized (systolic <140 mmHg and diastolic <90 mmHg) in 68.2% of patients. The overall mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score after 6 months of eprosartan-based therapy was one-point higher than at baseline (P < 0.001). MMSE score on completion of 6 months' follow-up was either unchanged or increased from baseline in 793 (93%) individuals and decreased in 60 (7%). Factors associated with stability of or improvement in cognitive function included MMSE score at baseline, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at baseline, and treatment-induced change in DBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from the Middle East subgroup of OSCAR are supportive of the hypothesis that antihypertensive therapy based on angiotensin-receptor blocker therapy with eprosartan may be associated with preservation or improvement of cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: Rashid Hospital of Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. garadaideh@dohms.gov.ae
authors.forename: Ghazi Ahmad
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Radaideh
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choueiry
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: Jean-Pascal
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Berrou
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedefdjian
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sévenier
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008877:Middle East; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D057912:Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Blockers; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D013876:Thiophenes; C068373:eprosartan