Effect of three months’ treatment with irbesartan on blood and pulse pressure of hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients: open, observational study in 31 793 patients

In hypertensive diabetics the cardiovascular risk is substantially increased. Therefore, an effective reduction of both blood pressure and pulse pressure is of particular importance for these patients. The aim of the prospective observational study in hypertensive type 2 diabetics was to assess the effect of a switch from the previous antihypertensive therapy to the angiotensin-II-receptor antagonist irbesartan (alone or in combination with HCTZ) on the reduction of blood pressure and pulse pressure, the reduction of diabetic nephropathy (microalbuminuria), and tolerability.8714 general practitioners included 31,793 type 2 diabetics aged at least 18 years in an open observational study. After inclusion in to the study the patients received irbesartan 300 mg as monotherapy or in combination with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg (HCTZ). Main outcome measures for efficacy were the reduction of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, reduction of pulse pressure, and blood pressure responder (reduction in DBP > or = 10 mmHg or diastolic < 90 mmHg), diastolic normalization (DBP < 90 mmHg) and overall normalization rates (SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg) after 3 months. Further outcome measures included the reduction of microalbuminuria or proteinuria, and adverse events (AEs) as a measure of tolerability.Thirty-eight per cent of patients received irbesartan 300 mg and 61% irbesartan in combination with HCTZ. Mean systolic blood pressure was reduced by 22.5 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure by 10.7 mmHg (baseline values: 160.2 and 93.2 mmHg). Pulse pressure fell on average by 11.6 mmHg. 83.4% of the patients were responders, with an overall normalization rate of 42.7% (SBP < 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg), respectively 73.8% (DBP < 90 mmHg). The antihypertensive benefit was achieved irrespective of the previous medication. Mean albuminuria decreased by about 27.7 mg/L. Only 0.3% of patients experienced adverse events.In type 2 diabetics with hypertension and either uncontrolled or no previous antihypertensive therapy a change to treatment with irbesartan or irbesartan/HCTZ for 3 months resulted in a distinct reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressures, with concomitant effective reductions of pulse pressure and microalbuminuria.