Does olmesartan medoxomil reduce systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in hypertensive patients?
Olmesartan medoxomil significantly reduces systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in hypertensive patients, with pronounced effects in those with wide baseline pulse pressure.
BACKGROUND: In this analysis, we evaluated the efficacy of the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP) in hypertensive patients. METHODS: Data from seven randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, 6- to 12-week efficacy trials of olmesartan 20 mg and 40 mg/day were analyzed to determine changes in trough seated SBP and PP within three cohorts: 1) total cohort (n = 1777); 2) subjects with a wide PP: that is, those with a baseline PP >55 mm Hg (n = 917); and 3) a subpopulation of patients with a wide PP and age > or = 65 years (n = 296). Statistical comparisons used least squares mean values. RESULTS: In the total cohort, olmesartan 20 and 40 mg/day resulted in mean reductions in SBP of 15.1 and 17.6 mm Hg, respectively (P or = 65 years, olmesartan 20 and 40 mg/day produced mean reductions in SBP of 21.8 and 22.5 mm Hg, and PP of 6.7 and 7.6 mm Hg, respectively (P or = 65 years, the population at greatest risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, olmesartan reduces PP to an extent similar to that in patients <65 years of age.
Giles et al. (2004) studied this question.