Efficacy/Safety of Olmesartan Medoxomil versus Losartan Potassium in Patients by Stage 1 or 2 Hypertension

AbstractAn exploratory subgroup analysis of a prospective, randomized, double–blind, forced–titration study comparing the efficacy and safety of once–daily olmesartan medoxomil (OM) and losartan potassium (LOS) in patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension is reported. After a 3– to 4–week placebo run–in period, eligible patients received once–daily OM (weeks 1–4, 20 mg; weeks 5–8, 40 mg), placebo plus OM (weeks 1–2, placebo; weeks 3–4, OM 20 mg; weeks 5–8, OM 40 mg), or LOS (weeks 1–4, 50 mg; weeks 5–8, 100 mg). A subset of patients underwent ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Efficacy endpoints by hypertension stage were mean change from baseline in seated cuff diastolic BP (SeDBP) at week 8 (primary); seated cuff systolic BP (SeSBP) at week 4 and week 8, and SeDBP at week 4 (secondary); and the change from baseline in mean 24–hour ambulatory BP at week 8, and BP target achievement (tertiary). At week 8, patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension had least–squares mean SeDBP reductions fr...