Azelnidipine plus olmesartan versus amlodipine plus olmesartan on arterial stiffness and cardiac function in hypertensive patients: a randomized trial
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Published on: December 2, 2014
Takeshi Takami1, Yoshihiko Saito
1Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic Jingumae, Kashihara, Nara, Japan. takami66@m5.kcn.ne.jp
Insights
Olmesartan with azelnidipine improved central blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and arterial stiffness more than olmesartan with amlodipine over two years. These findings highlight azelnidipine
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Hypertension management requires effective strategies to prevent cardiovascular complications.
- Central blood pressure (CBP) and arterial stiffness are key indicators of cardiovascular risk.
- Left ventricular (LV) remodeling and diastolic dysfunction are consequences of uncontrolled hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the long-term effects of olmesartan/azelnidipine versus olmesartan/amlodipine on cardiovascular parameters.
- To evaluate impacts on central blood pressure, LV mass index (LVMI), LV diastolic function, and arterial stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Patients with inadequately controlled hypertension received olmesartan monotherapy.
- Add-on therapy with either azelnidipine or amlodipine was administered for two years.
- Measurements included central blood pressure, LVMI, LV diastolic function indices, and arterial stiffness parameters (baPWV, AIx).
Main Results:
- Both add-on therapies significantly improved brachial and central blood pressure, LVMI, LV diastolic function, and arterial stiffness.
- Olmesartan/azelnidipine demonstrated significantly greater improvements in CBP, LVMI, LV diastolic function (E/A ratio), and arterial stiffness (baPWV, AIx) compared to olmesartan/amlodipine.
- Multivariate analysis indicated independent associations between arterial stiffness, central blood pressure, and LV diastolic function.
Conclusions:
- Olmesartan/azelnidipine offers superior benefits for central hemodynamics, cardiac structure, and vascular health compared to olmesartan/amlodipine in hypertensive patients.
- Improvements in LV diastolic function are linked to concurrent enhancements in arterial stiffness.
- These findings support azelnidipine as a valuable option for add-on therapy in managing resistant hypertension.
Purpose:
To compare the long-term effects of olmesartan combined with either azelnidipine or amlodipine on central blood pressure (CBP), left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMI), LV diastolic function (e' velocity, E/e' ratio, E/A ratio) and arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV] and augmentation index normalized for a heart rate of 75 bpm [AIx]).
Patients And Methods:
Patients with systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg received olmesartan monotherapy (20 mg/day) for 12 weeks. They were then randomly assigned to fixed-dose add-on therapy with azelnidipine (16 mg/day; n = 26) or amlodipine (5 mg/day; n = 26) for a further 2 years. CBP, LVMI, e' velocity, E/e' ratio, E/A ratio, baPWV, and AIx were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 2 years.
Results:
Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. The decrease in brachial BP over 2 years was similar in both groups. CBP, LVMI, E/e' ratio, baPWV, and AIx decreased significantly, and the E/A ratio and e' velocity increased significantly in both groups. The decreases in CBP (P < 0.001), AIx (P < 0.001), baPWV (P < 0.001), LVMI (P < 0.001), and E/e' (P = 0.002) as well as the increase in E/A ratio (P = 0.03) over 2 years were significantly greater in the olmesartan/azelnidipine group than in the olmesartan/amlodipine group. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the changes in baPWV (β = 0.41, P < 0.001) and CBP (β = 0.47, P = 0.01) were independently associated with the change in LVMI, the change in baPWV (β = 0.25, P < 0.001) was independently associated with the change in E/e' ratio, and the changes in baPWV (β = 0.21, P = 0.001) and AIx (β = 0.25, P = 0.03) were independently associated with the change in E/A ratio.
Conclusion:
Treatment with olmesartan/azelnidipine for 2 years resulted in greater improvements in CBP, LVMI, and LV diastolic function, and arterial stiffness compared with olmesartan/amlodipine. Improvements in LV diastolic function were associated with improvements in arterial stiffness.
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