TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION IN THE ELDERLY - EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF A FIXED COMBINATION CAPTOPRIL WITH HYDROCHLOROTHIACIDE

Efficacy and tolerance of the fixed combination captopril/hydrochlorothiazide were investigated in a randomized, multicenter, open 2-year-study in elderly patients (> 60 years). 38% of the enrolled 206 patients were successfully treated (diastolic blood pressure < 95 mmHg) with 25 mg captopril plus 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide whereas 59% of the patients required 50 mg captopril plus 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide. Blood pressure was lowered by active treatment from 185/102 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) down to 147/82 mmHg. The total rate of responders was 85%. Only 7.8% of the patients reported side effects during the 2-year-course of the study. Sodium, potassium, glucose, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and creatinine clearance remained within the normal range. The results show that the fixed combination captopril/hydrochlorothiazide is an effective, well tolerated antihypertensive regimen with a high responder rate.