Background Antihypertensive treatment-associated cardiovascular protection is to a large extend a function of blood pressure reduction. Current study aimed at assessing a short-term antihypertensive efficacy of telmisartan - an angiotensin-II type 1 receptor blocker. The study was an open, nine-week observation of hypertensive patients in whom treatment with telmisartan 40 to 80 mg/d was introduced. We assessed an impact of telmisartan on blood pressure measured conventionally in the office and obtained by self-measurements at patients’ home. We also checked the impact the therapy had on one-week frequency of morning and evening self-measurements above the 130/85 mm Hg cut-off.
Material and methods Average age of 6985 patients (49.5% men) was 56.3 (± 12.1) years. Baseline office blood pressure averaged 161/95 (± 13/8) mm Hg, and baseline self-measured blood pressure averaged 158/94 (± 14/8) mm Hg. Percentage of self-measurements exceeding 130/85 mm Hg was 46 in the morning and 43 in the evening. Average dose of telmisartan was 50.3 (± 17.6) mg, and 23.7% of patients received hydrochlorothiazide.
Results Office blood pressure fell by 23/11 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic), and self-measured by 28/14 mm Hg (p < 0.0001). The percentage of morning and evening self-measured blood pressures exceeding the threshold fell to 13 and 9, respectively. In the stratified analyses, sex and age did not differentiate the antihypertensive response. The effect was not inferior in patients with complicated hypertension, smokers, diabetics, and obese subjects. The effect was proportional to level of baseline blood pressure (p < 0.0001). In two patients we observed transient elevation of renal function parameters which required drug withdrawal.
Conclusion In conclusion, in nine-week observation, telmisartan proved to be an effective and safe antihypertensive medication.