A First-Line Treatment Option for Elderly Hypertensive Patients: A Low-Dose Multimechanism à -Blocker/Diuretic

The high incidence of hypertension among the elderly makes a once-daily multimechanism antihypertensive an advantageous agent for the control of hypertension. Because of its safety and efficacy in earlier studies, a low-dose multimechanism à -blocker/diuretic, bisoprolol fumarate 2.5, 5, or 10 mg combined with HCTZ 6.25 mg, was evaluated in multicenter studies, including a subgroup analysis of elderly patients at or above 60 years of age. Results indicate that all 3 dosage strengths of this once-daily agent are effective in reducing blood pressure in this population throughout a 24-hour period. Since low doses of both components are used to achieve efficacy, the incidence of side effects with all 3 dosage strengths is similar to that of placebo. In particular, this agent does not cause hypokalemia. Bisoprolol fumarate/HCTZ is an appropriate therapeutic option for elderly patients with hypertension because of its ability to effectively and safely control blood pressure in this difficult to treat population.