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Prehypertension: a possible target for antihypertensive medication
1Division of Hypertension, University of Michigan Medical Center, 3918 Taubman Center, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0356, USA. snesbitt@umich.edu
Current Hypertension Reports
|September 12, 2000
Summary
Investigating early blood pressure lowering with an angiotensin receptor blocker may prevent hypertension. This approach could reduce long-term cardiovascular and renal disease incidence, offering a novel prevention strategy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure and associated vascular changes can precede hypertension diagnosis.
- Hypertension complications like coronary heart and renal disease progress despite treatment.
- Current non-pharmacologic hypertension prevention methods face compliance challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of early intervention with an angiotensin receptor blocker in preventing hypertension.
- To assess the long-term impact of blood pressure lowering on hypertension incidence and its consequences.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year randomized controlled trial comparing candesartan cilexitil (angiotensin receptor blocker) with placebo in patients with high-normal blood pressure.
- A subsequent 2-year follow-up period to monitor hypertension incidence after treatment discontinuation.
- Enrollment of 1000 patients, with study completion anticipated in 2004.
Main Results:
- Data on hypertension incidence post-treatment and placebo comparison are pending study completion.
- Analysis will focus on the preventative effect of candesartan cilexitil on developing clinical hypertension.
- Long-term consequences of hypertension in both groups will be evaluated.
Conclusions:
- Early pharmacological intervention, specifically renin-angiotensin system blockade, shows promise in preventing hypertension.
- Novel strategies are needed to overcome limitations of current non-pharmacologic hypertension prevention.
- Successful prevention could significantly reduce the global burden of hypertension and its associated diseases.