Meta-analysis of three observational studies of amlodipine/valsartan in hypertensive patients with additional risk factors

Abstract

Objectives. In this study, the effectiveness of amlodipine/valsartan single-pill combination was assessed in hypertensive patients with diabetes, metabolic risk or overweight. Methods. Data from 12,265 patients treated with amlodipine/valsartan from three studies were analyzed in a meta-analysis. These studies focused on (i) non-diabetic hypertensive patients suffering from abdominal obesity; (ii) hypertensive patients with at least one metabolic risk factor; and (iii) hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The observation periods were 16 weeks for the first two and 24 weeks for the latter cohort. Results. At start of observation, the mean blood pressure was 162.3 mmHg (systolic) and 93.5 mmHg (diastolic). A total of 7.4% of patients were aged ≥ 80 years. At end of the observation, a normalized blood pressure was present in 38.8% of patients. No appreciable differences in blood pressure reduction were evident between the study groups. In both age subgroups (< 80 years and ≥ 80 years) blood pressure reduction was comparable. Tolerability was assessed by treating physicians as “very good” (69.3%) and “good” (27.3%). Conclusions. In daily practice, treatment of hypertensive patients with additional risk factors with amlodipine/valsartan single-pill combinations is well tolerated and associated with effective reduction of blood pressure.

Keywords::

• Amlodipine
• diabetes mellitus
• hypertension
• meta-analysis
• risk factors
• valsartan

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the cooperation of the patients, investigators and staff at all participating sites of this study.

Conflicts of interest: S. Eckert has received honoraria for lectures from Novartis Pharma GmbH; he was the principal investigator for EXPAND-D. S. Freytag is employed by Kantar Health GmbH, which conducted the studies and the analysis on behalf of Novartis Pharma GmbH. A. Müller and S. Klebs are employees of Novartis Pharma GmbH.

Financial support for medical editorial assistance was provided by Novartis Pharma GmbH. The authors thank Franziska Pirkl, PhD, for her medical editorial assistance with this manuscript on behalf of Kantar Health GmbH. This study was funded by Novartis Pharma GmbH.