The Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of Benazepril in Chinese Population: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

To evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of benazepril in a Chinese hypertensive patient population. We searched the Cochrane, PubMed, EMbase, CBM, and CNKI databases from January 1989 to November 2010 for relevant studies. Two investigators independently identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then extracted data. Statistical analysis was performed by Stata 11 software. Thirty-four studies of benazepril at dosages from 10 to 40 mg daily with 1,503 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The weighted average reduction from baseline in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure for benazepril monotherapy was 24.4 mm Hg (95% CI 21.7-27.1, P<0.01) and 15.7 mm Hg (95% CI 14.2-17.1, P<0.01), respectively. Benazepril appeared to be inferior to CCB in lowering systolic blood pressure by 3.4 mm Hg (P=0.08) but not in lowering diastolic blood pressure (P=0.55), and was similar to angiotensin-receptor blockers in lowering systolic (P=0.58) and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.43). Angioedema was rare (0.2%). However, cough was rather common in patients on benazepril with a prevalence of 10.6%. Benazepril is efficacious and safe in the management of hypertension in Chinese population.