Inpharma 1464 - 20 Nov 2004

Candesartan cilexetil reducesstroke in elderly with hypertension

Compared with other antihypertensives, candesartancilexetil may reduce the risk of stroke in elderly patientswith isolated systolic hypertension, report researchersfrom the multinational SCOPE* study.

Their subgroup analysis of the trial included1518 such patients who were randomised to receivecandesartan cilexetil 8 mg/day (n = 754) or placebo, for3–5 years.** If hypertension was not controlled evenafter doubling study medication, patients could receiveadditional antihypertensives, preferablyhydrochlorothiazide.

The between-group differences in the decline in bothsystolic and diastolic BP were not significant. There wasalso no significant difference in the rates of a first majorcardiovascular event between the candesartan-cilexetiland placebo groups (27.3 vs 30.8 events per1000 patient-years). However, treatment withcandesartan cilexetil was associated with a significantlyreduced risk of a first stroke, relative to placebo (7.2 vs12.5 events per 1000 patient-years). Both studytreatments were generally well tolerated.* Study on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly; see Inpharma 1348:11–12, 27 Jul 2002; 800888358** The study was supported by AstraZeneca.

Papademetriou V, et al. Stroke prevention with the angiotensin II type 1-receptorblocker candesartan in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension: theStudy on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE). Journal of theAmerican College of Cardiology 44: 1175-1180, No. 6, 15 Sep 2004 800954890

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Inpharma 20 Nov 2004 No. 14641173-8324/10/1464-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved