Effects of antihypertensive drugs on SBP variability are dose-dependent and persist when used in combinations .
Use of a high dose of a calcium channel blocker alone or in combination with other agents is therefore likely to be particularly effective in prevention of stroke
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a powerful risk factor for stroke , is reduced by calcium channel blockers and diuretics , and increased by β-blockers .
However , it is unknown whether these effects are dose-dependent and persist in combination with other drugs .
A home blood pressure monitoring study comparing the antihypertensive efficacy of two angiotensin II receptor antagonist fixed combinations.
BACKGROUND The objective of this prospect i ve , r and omized , open-label , blinded-endpoint study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of valsartan 80 mg v irbesartan 150 mg when combined with hydrochlorothiazide ( HCTZ ) 12.5 mg . METHODS Untreated or uncontrolled hypertensive adults ( n = 800 ) were enrolled by primary care physicians . After a 5-week open-label lead-in phase in which all patients received 12.5 mg HCTZ once daily , subjects whose blood pressure ( BP ) remained uncontrolled were r and omized ( n = 464 ) to valsartan/HCTZ ( 80/12.5 mg ) or irbesartan/HCTZ ( 150/12.5 mg ) for 8 weeks .  Home BP monitoring ( HBPM ) was performed in the morning and in the evening for 5 days , at baseline , and after 8 weeks . Office BP measurements were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks . RESULTS Irbesartan/HCTZ produced greater reductions in average systolic BP ( SBP ) and diastolic BP ( DBP ) measured by HBPM than valsartan/HCTZ ( SBP : -13.0 v -10.6 mm Hg , P = .0094 ; DBP : -9.5 v -7.4 mm Hg , P = .0007 ) . These differences were more pronounced in the morning ( trough ) than in the evening . Office BP measurements also showed greater reductions in trough seated SBP and DBP with irbesartan/HCTZ compared with valsartan/HCTZ . Normalization rates observed with HBPM ( SBP < 135 mm Hg and DBP < 85 mm Hg ) were significantly greater with irbesartan/HCTZ than with valsartan/HCTZ ( 50.2 v 33.2 % ; P = .0003 ) . The overall safety was similar in the two groups . CONCLUSIONS The superior BP-lowering potency of the fixed combination irbesartan/HCTZ ( 150/12.5 mg ) over valsartan/HCTZ ( 80/12.5 mg ) , evidence d independently from the investigators by HBPM , supports the use of this technique in trials with prospect i ve , r and omized , open-label , blinded-endpoint design
Effects of antihypertensive drugs on SBP variability are dose-dependent and persist when used in combinations .
Use of a high dose of a calcium channel blocker alone or in combination with other agents is therefore likely to be particularly effective in prevention of stroke
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure variability is a powerful risk factor for stroke , is reduced by calcium channel blockers and diuretics , and increased by β-blockers .
However , it is unknown whether these effects are dose-dependent and persist in combination with other drugs .