Randomized, comparative, double-blind study of amlodipine vs. nicardipine as a treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly

Amlodipine in the current management of hypertension

Hypertension is the leading cause of death worldwide, affecting 1.4 billion people. Treatment options include the widely used calcium channel blockers, among which amlodipine, a dihydropyridine, has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other drugs within this class. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the evidence supporting the use of amlodipine over the past 30 years and highlights its cardiovascular benefits in current hypertension management. Amlodipine has low renal clearance (7 mL/min/mg) and long half-life (35-50 h) and duration of action, which allows it to sustain its anti-hypertensive effect for more than 24 h following a single dose. Additionally, blood pressure (BP) control is maintained even when a dose has been missed, providing continuous protection in case of incidental noncompliance. It has proven to reduce BP variability and successfully lower BP. Amlodipine also controls BP in patients with a systolic/diastolic BP of 130/80 mm Hg or higher, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease without worsening glycemic or kidney function. Additionally, amlodipine is a wise choice for older adults due to its ability to control BP and protect against stroke and myocardial infarction. Side effects of amlodipine include edema, palpitations, dizziness, and flushing, which are more common with the higher dose of 10 mg. Amlodipine is cost effective and predicted to be cost saving when compared with usual care.

Age-Related Difference in the Sleep Pressure-Lowering Effect Between an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker and a Calcium Channel Blocker in Asian Hypertensives

Sleep blood pressure (BP), which is partly determined by salt sensitivity and intake, is an important cardiovascular risk in hypertensives. However, there have been no studies on age-related differences in the sleep BP–lowering effect between angiotensin II receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers in Asians. Azilsartan Circadian and Sleep Pressure—the 1st Study was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, 2-parallel-group study conducted to compare the efficacy of 8-week oral treatment with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (azilsartan 20 mg) or a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine 5 mg) on sleep BP as evaluated by ambulatory BP monitoring. Among the overall population, amlodipine treatment achieved significantly greater reduction in sleep BP, awake BP, and 24-hour BP than azilsartan treatment. BP reduction by amlodipine was particularly pronounced in elderly hypertensive patients aged ≥60 years old. Among patients ≥60 years old, the amlodipine group had numerically, but not significantly, higher control rate of sleep BP compared with the azilsartan group. Similar results were found for awake BP and 24-hour BP. These results suggest a greater BP reduction/control by amlodipine compared with azilsartan and that reduction/control of BP by amlodipine was also more effective in the elderly population. As recommended in the American Society of Hypertension/The international Society of Hypertension and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for differentiating treatment according to age, amlodipine should be one of the options for starting treatment in the elderly population.

Clinical Trial URL—

http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01762501

Clinical Trial ID—

NCT01762501

Rationale, study design, and implementation of the ACS1 study: effect of azilsartan on circadian and sleep blood pressure as compared with amlodipine

Objective

The ACS1 (Azilsartan Circadian and Sleep Pressure – the first study) is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, two parallel-group study carried out to investigate the efficacy of an 8-week oral treatment with azilsartan 20 mg in comparison with amlodipine 5 mg.

Materials and methods

The patients with stage I or II primary hypertension will be randomly assigned to either an azilsartan group (n=350) or an amlodipine group (n=350). The primary endpoint is a change in nocturnal systolic blood pressure (BP) as measured by ambulatory BP monitoring at the end of follow-up relative to the baseline level during the run-in period. In addition, we will carry out the same analysis after dividing four different nocturnal BP dipping statuses (extreme-dippers, dippers, nondipper, and risers).

Conclusion

The findings of this study will help in establishing an appropriate antihypertensive treatment for hypertensive patients with a disrupted circadian BP rhythm.

Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of manidipine versus amlodipine in elderly subjects with isolated systolic hypertension: MAISH study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) affects 10-20% of the elderly population and is strongly related to the risk of cardiovascular events. Elevated systolic BP values are primarily caused by reduced large vessel compliance with a consequent increase in total peripheral resistance. Vasodilating drugs, such as calcium channel antagonists, have proven to be effective in controlling ISH in elderly patients. This study set out to compare the antihypertensive efficacy and safety of two different calcium channel antagonists, manidipine and amlodipine, administered once daily in elderly subjects with ISH.

METHODS

In a European, randomised, double-blind, multicentre, parallel-group study, after a 2-week placebo run-in period, 195 patients aged >or=60 years with ISH received manidipine 10-20 mg once daily or amlodipine 5-10 mg once daily. Chlortalidone 25mg once daily could be added to the high dose of test drug in the event of insufficient antihypertensive control. The primary efficacy parameter was the proportion of patients with a reduction in office sitting systolic BP (SBP) >or=15 mm Hg, measured at trough, at the final visit. Secondary efficacy parameters included: the proportion of patients with a normal sitting SBP value (<140 mm Hg) at the final visit; a change from baseline to the final visit in mean office trough sitting SBP; a change from baseline to the final visit in the cardiovascular risk score as measured by the INDANA (INdividual Data ANalysis of Antihypertensive intervention trials) project score; the proportion of patients with at least a two-point reduction in the cardiovascular risk score; the percentage of patients requiring upward dose titration and diuretic add-on treatment and the investigator's final judgement. Safety and tolerability evaluations were based on adverse events, ECG and laboratory tests, and clinically relevant reports of abnormalities.

RESULTS

In the intention-to-treat population (n = 189), 76% and 72% of patients in the manidipine and amlodipine groups, respectively, had a reduction in sitting SBP of >or=15 mm Hg (p-value not significant for between-group comparison). The percentage of patients with a normal sitting SBP value was 52% in the manidipine group and 51% in the amlodipine group (p-value not significant for between-group comparison). Sitting SBP reductions at the end of treatment were -19.5 +/- 11.8 mm Hg in patients receiving manidipine and -18.4 +/- 11.1 mm Hg in patients receiving amlodipine. Both treatments induced a small reduction in cardiovascular risk score, with 45% of patients in both treatment groups having a two-point reduction in the final score. At the final visit, approximately half of the patients in both treatment groups were still being treated with the low dose of one of the test drugs (manidipine 10mg or amlodipine 5mg). Chlortalidone was added to the high dose of test drugs in 7% and 11% of patients in the amlodipine and manidipine groups, respectively. Both drugs were well tolerated, with a higher incidence of oedema in the amlodipine group (9% vs 4%). No clinically relevant changes in heart rate were induced by either treatment.

CONCLUSION

In elderly patients with ISH, treatment with manidipine for 12 weeks was well tolerated and effective and the antihypertensive effects obtained with manidipine were the same as those obtained with amlodipine.