Aliskiren for geriatric lowering of systolic hypertension: A randomized controlled trial

Efficacy and safety of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren was compared with ramipril for treatment of essential systolic hypertension in elderly patients. A 36-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled, optional-titration study was performed in 901 patients (aliskiren, n457; ramipril, n444) 65 years of age with systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140 mm Hg. Aliskiren 150-300 mg per day or ramipril 5-10 mg per day for was administered for 12 weeks with optional add-on therapy of hydrochlorothiazide (12.5-25 mg per day) at week 12 and amlodipine (5-10 mg per day) at week 22. The primary end point was non-inferiority of aliskiren vs ramipril monotherapy for change from baseline in mean sitting SBP (msSBP) at week 12. Decreases from baseline msSBP and mean sitting diastolic BP with aliskiren monotherapy (14.0 and 5.1 mm Hg, respectively) were non-inferior (P0.001 for both values) and superior to ramipril monotherapy (11.6, 3.6 mm Hg; P0.02, P0.01, respectively). More patients achieved BP control with aliskiren (42%) than ramipril (33%; P0.01). At week 36, fewer patients receiving aliskiren-based therapy required add-on treatment with hydrochlorothiazide or amlodipine (P0.01 and 0.048, respectively). Tolerability was similar, but more patients receiving ramipril reported cough (P0.001). In elderly patients with systolic hypertension, aliskiren proved to be more effective and better overall anti-hypertensive therapy compared to ramipril.