Antihypertensive efficacy of the angiotensin receptor blocker azilsartan medoxomil compared with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril.

ABSTRACT: Drug therapy often fails to control hypertension. Azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) is a newly developed angiotensin II receptor blocker with high efficacy and good tolerability. This double-blind, controlled, randomised trial compared its antihypertensive efficacy and safety vs the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril (RAM) in patients with clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) 150-180?mm?Hg. Patients were randomised (n=884) to 20?mg AZL-M or 2.5?mg RAM once daily for 2 weeks, then force-titrated to 40 or 80?mg AZL-M or 10?mg RAM for 22 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in trough, seated, clinic SBP. Mean patient age was 57±11 years, 52.4% were male, 99.5% were Caucasian. Mean baseline BP was 161.1±7.9/94.9±9.0?mm?Hg. Clinic SBP decreased by 20.6±0.95 and 21.2±0.95?mm?Hg with AZL-M 40 and 80?mg vs12.2±0.95?mm?Hg with RAM (P<0.001 for both AZL-M doses). Adverse events leading to discontinuation were less frequent with AZL-M 40 and 80?mg (2.4% and 3.1%, respectively) than with RAM (4.8%). These data demonstrated that treatment of stage 1-2 hypertension with AZL-M was more effective than RAM and better tolerated.

SUBMITTER: Bonner G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3715765 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature