Conditions: Hypertension
Keywords: hypertension postmenopausal valsartan amlodipine hydrochlorothiazide
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 125

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is compare treatment with valsartan with the possible addition of a diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, on high blood pressure with the drug amlodipine with the possible addition of a diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide. In particular, the effect of treatment on the stiffness of the blood vessels will be studied.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: None

Interventions: intervention 1: Valsartan 320 mg intervention 2: Amlodipine 10 mg intervention 3: Hydrochlorothiazide
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Patients received 160 mg valsartan for 4 weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to receive either 320 mg valsartan for the following 8 weeks. intervention 2: Patients received 5 mg amlodipine for four weeks. Patients were then up-titrated to receive 10 mg amlodipine for the following 8 weeks. intervention 3: At Week 12, patients who did not meet target Blood Pressure for both Systolic Blood Pressure \< 140 mmHg and Diastolic Blood Pressure \< 90 mmHg were eligible to receive 12.5 mg open-label Hydrochlorothiazide for the following 26 weeks.

Protocol document: