Evaluation of long-term efficacy and acceptability of indapamide SR in elderly hypertensive patients

Objective: To assess the long-term antihypertensive efficacy and acceptability of indapamide SR 1,5 mg in elderly hypertensive patients ((greater-than or equal to) 65 years). Study design: Open, 12-month, follow-up study of 444 patients, treated with indapamide SR, who were responders and/or achieved target BP levels following a 3-month, randomised, controlled, double-blind short-term comparison of indapamide SR versus hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg and amlodipine 5 mg. Results: The long-term decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after 12 months follow-up with indapamide SR was -24.0/-13.1 mmHg from baseline (MO). The percentage of patients that achieved target BP levels (DBP < 95 mmHg, SBP (less-than or equal to) 160 mmHg) was 80.1% [84.3% for isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) subgroup], and the response rate (BP < 140/90 mmHg or decrease in supine diastolic BP (greater-than or equal to) 10 mmHg or in supine systolic BP (greater-than or equal to) 20 mmHg) 81.5%. Blood pressure (BP) remained stable throughout the 12 months follow-up period (M3-M15), whatever the previous treatment received during the 3-month, double-blind period (MO-M3). Clinical and biological acceptability was good. A low occurrence of withdrawals (7.2%), was reported. Conclusion: Over the course of the long-term, 12-month follow-up study, indapamide SR was shown to be an effective and well tolerated antihypertensive therapy, even after a switch from amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide, in patients aged 65 years-80 years with systolo-diastolic hypertension (SDH) or ISH. (copyright) 2005 LIBRAPHARM LIMITED.