Curative effects on mild to moderate primary hypertension and influence on pulse wave velocity of slow releasing felodipine

Abstract

To evaluate the curative effects of slow releasing felodipine on mild to moderate primary hypertension and its influence on the pulse wave velocity of slow of the patients. 260 patients with mild to moderate primary hypertension, aged 35-79, received slow releasing felodipine with the initial dosage of 5 mg once daily for 2 weeks. By the end of the second week, 222 of the 260 patients with their blood pressure (BP) levels<140/90 mm Hg were treated by the same regimen for 12 weeks. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured before the treatment, and by the ends of the second and fourteenth weeks. Intention to treat analysis (ITT analysis) was adopted. After 2-week treatment the systolic BP decreased by 21.4 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 14.2 mm Hg (both P<0.01). After 14-week treatment, the BP decreased by 24.8/17.5 mm Hg (P<0.01), the systolic BP decreased by 16.5% and the diastolic BP decreased by 18.4%. The BP of the patients with their BP levels up to standard decreased by 22.8/15.1 mm Hg (P<0.01) by the end of the second week and decreased by 25.0/17.9 mm Hg by the end of the 14th weeks. The PWV of all patients decreased by 0.58 m/s after 2-week treatment (P<0.05) and by 0.86 m/s after 14-week treatment (P<0.05). The PWV of those up to standard decreased by 0.55 m/s after 2-week treatment (P<0.05) and by 0.86 m/s after 14-week treatment (P<0.05). Adverse events were observed in 56 patients (21.5%), including headache, flush, and dizziness, however, no severe adverse event was found. No significant changes in laboratory examinations and ECG were found after treatment. Slow releasing felodipine is effective in treating mild to moderate primary hypertension, with sustained efficacy of lowering blood pressure and PWV.