Efficacy, safety, and effects on quality of life of bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide versus amlodipine in elderly patients with systolic hypertension.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Several studies have shown the benefits of antihypertensive treatment in elderly patients in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate reduction. Low-dose drug combinations may be of interest in treating older subjects. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel group study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of bisoprolol 2.5 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg (n = 84) to amlodipine 5 mg (n = 80) in isolated systolic hypertension in patients older than 60 years.

METHODS:

After a 2- to 4-week placebo washout period, both drugs were administered once daily and taken for 12 weeks. Blood pressure was measured 24 hours after treatment administration.

RESULTS:

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes from baseline to week 12 were similar for both the bisoprolol and amlodipine groups (-20. 0/-4.5 mm Hg and -19.6/-2.4 mm Hg, respectively). Overall adverse events for bisoprolol and amlodipine were 39% and 40%, respectively. Changes in quality of life scores were +2.5 for bisoprolol and +3.2 for amlodipine, with a positive change indicating improvement.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates comparable efficacy and tolerability of bisoprolol 2.5 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg and amlodipine 5 mg. The low-dose combination of bisoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide may be an appropriate alternative for elderly patients with systolic hypertension.

• Authors: A Benetos, S Consoli, A Safavian, A Dubanchet, M Safar
• Journal: American heart journal (Am Heart J) Vol. 140 Issue 4 Pg. E11 (Oct 2000) ISSN: 1097-6744 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 11011336 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comment, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Diuretics
• Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Amlodipine
• Bisoprolol

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Amlodipine (therapeutic use)
• Bisoprolol (therapeutic use)
• Blood Pressure (drug effects, physiology)
• Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• Circadian Rhythm (physiology)
• Diuretics
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrochlorothiazide (therapeutic use)
• Hypertension (drug therapy, physiopathology, psychology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Quality of Life
• Safety
• Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Systole
• Treatment Outcome