Efficacy and safety of benidipine therapy of essential hypertension in elderly Chinese patients.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Benidipine (CAS 105979-17-7) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris. OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of therapy with benidipine in elderly hypertensive patients. METHODS: Chinese patients >60 years of age with mild to moderate essential hypertension were enrolled. The patients were prescribed benidipine at the dose of 8 mg once daily for 12 weeks. Detailed laboratory examinations and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four of the 180 patients enrolled completed the 12-week active treatment phase. Sitting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reductions at the end of treatment were 21.50 +/- 12.83 and 10.60 +/- 8.04 mmHg, respectively; the proportion of patients showing a good treatment response was 95.1% for SBP and 96.9% for DBP. Benidipine significantly reduced the mean 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (p < 0.001 vs. baseline) exhibiting smooth, sustained effects and high trough-to-peak ratios (T/P ratio) (0.87 for SBP and 0.72 for DBP). Moreover, benidIpine significantly reduced the systolic morning blood pressure surge and urinary albumin, and it was well tolerated. No serious adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: Benidipine was welltolerated and effective in elderly Chinese patients with essential hypertension.