Open AccessComparison of Aliskiren/Hydrochlorothiazide Combination Therapy With Hydrochlorothiazide Monotherapy in Older Patients With Stage 2 Systolic Hypertension: Results of the ACTION Study
Author(s) -
Basile Jan,
Babazadeh Simon,
Lillestol Michael,
Botha Jaco,
Yurkovic Carol,
Weitzman Richard
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2010.00418.x
Subject(s) - aliskiren , hydrochlorothiazide , medicine , blood pressure , urology , combination therapy , cardiology , renin–angiotensin system
Patients with stage 2 systolic hypertension require sizable blood pressure (BP) reductions to achieve recommended targets. This randomized double‐blind study compared a single‐pill combination of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide (aliskiren/HCTZ) with HCTZ monotherapy in older patients (older than 55 years) with systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg and <200 mm Hg. After a 1‐ to 4‐week washout, 451 patients were randomized to once‐daily aliskiren/HCTZ 150/12.5 mg or HCTZ 12.5 mg for 1 week, and then double the doses for 7 weeks. Overall baseline BP was 168.8/91.4 mm Hg. At week 4 (primary) end point, aliskiren/HCTZ provided significantly greater BP reductions from baseline than HCTZ monotherapy (29.6/9.3 mm Hg vs 22.3/6.8 mm Hg) and resulted in a greater proportion of patients achieving BP goal of <140/90 mm Hg (51.1% vs 33.3%). Aliskiren/HCTZ therapy provides substantial BP reductions and may thus be a useful treatment option for older patients with stage 2 hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:162–169. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.