Diuretics have enhanced antihypertensive effects in the elderly ...

The results of 3 double-blind studies involving a total of 1396 patients with hypertension indicate that ' ... age affects the antihypertensive response to some drugs more than others'.

Hydrochlorothiazide (n = 312) induced significantly greater reductions in systolic and diastolic BP in older (~ 55 years) compared with younger « 55 years) patients in a randomised double-blind study of 610 patients. In contrast, BP reductions were not significantly different between age groups in propranolol recipients (298).

Nadolol and bendroflumethiazide (bendrofluazide] alone or in combination were compared in 365 patients. Systolic BP reductions were significantly greater in older compared with younger patients who received bendroflumethiazide ± nadolol, while age did not affect the response to nadoloi.

There were no age-related differences in BP responses to captopril monotherapy in a double­blind study involving 421 patients. However, systolic BP was reduced to a significantly greater extent with captopril + diuretic therapy.

The authors concluded that enhanced antihypertensive effects in the elderly may be related to age-related haemodynamic changes. Freis ED. Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Group on Hypertensive Agents: effects of age on treatment results. American Journal of Medicine 90 (Suppl. 3A): 20-23. Mar 1991 6229

ISSN 0156-170J/ 91/0427-0009/0S01.00/0 e Ailis lI.t~rutioul Ltil

9 lNPHARMA®27 Ap, 1991