Diuretics and Angiotensin-Receptor Blocker Agents in Patients With Stage I Hypertension
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
High blood pressure is the major risk factor for Cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence
of hypertension in Brazil was established in population-based studies conducted in different
cities and States, varying from 22.3 to 44% of adults.
The benefit of drug treatment of hypertension to prevent major cardiovascular events was
consistently demonstrated in a large series of clinical trials controlled by placebo.
Diuretics are at least as efficacious as other blood pressure-lowering drugs, are well
tolerated, have longer duration of action and the advantage of very low cost to be used in a
population intervention. Chlorthalidone is the more efficacious agent. Its main limitation is
to induce hypokalemia in a proportion of patients, an adverse effect that can be antagonized
by a potassium-sparing diuretic, as amiloride.
A study comparing diuretic with an ARB agent is therefore recommendable in Brazil, in order
to support the decisions of the Health Secretary in regard to blood pressure agents supply
for the Brazilian population. Such a study was demanded and funded by the Health and
Technology Ministries in Brazil.