Efficacy and tolerability of once-daily 160 mg valsartan in Chinese patients with mild to moderate hypertension

The present multicentre, prospective, open-label, single treatment arm study (Val-Perfect) examined the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily valsartan monotherapy (80 mg for two weeks, followed by 160 mg for eight weeks) in 195 Chinese patients with mild to moderate hypertension, using office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Significant mean reductions (P<0.0001) were observed in office BP from baseline to week 10, with mean sitting systolic BP (MSSBP) and mean sitting diastolic BP (MSDBP) values of 15.6 +/- 12.3 and 11.1 +/- 8.6 mmHg, respectively. The office BP control rate at week 10 was 56.9% (target MSSBP/MSDBP <130/80 mmHg for patients with type 2 diabetes or chronic kidney disease, <140/90 mmHg for others). Valsartan treatment significantly reduced mean 24-h SBP/DBP (-6.1/-4.4 mmHg; both P<0.0001) and mean home-monitored SBP/DBP (-13.3/-9.1 mmHg; both P<0.0001) at week 10. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation (1.5%) or drug-related AEs (3.1%) was low, with no instances of mortality or drug-related serious AEs. These results indicate that 160 mg valsartan is safe and effective at lowering BP in Chinese patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The significant reductions in office-based and out-of-office BP measures support the clinical relevance of moderate-dose valsartan monotherapy for effective 24-h BP control.