ABSTRACT
Hypertension guidelines recommend the use of fixed dose combinations as the first step treatment in patients with stage 2 and 3 hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare the antihypertensive effects of four different fixed-dose preparations containing beta blocker [BB]-diuretic, ACE inhibitor [ACEI]-diuretic, angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]-diuretic, and calcium channel blocker [CCB]-ACEI. Eighty patients with newly diagnosed hypertension whose sitting blood pressure [BP] >/= 160/100 mmHg were randomized to receive either of those four fixed dose antihypertensive preparations: atenolol 50 mg-hydrochlorotiazide [HCTZ] 12.5 mg, or lisinopril 20 mg-HCTZ 12.5 mg, or telmisartan 80 mg-HCTZ 12.5 mg or verapamil 180 mg- trandolapril 2 mg. All the patients were followed up for six months. Both systolic BP [SBP] and diastolic BP [DBP] were reduced similarly in all groups [45.7/22.4 mmHg in BB-diuretic group, 45.8/18.1 mmHg in ACEI-diuretic group, 54.6/17.6 mmHg in ARB-diuretic group and 38.9/16 mmHg in ACEI-CCB group. For SBP p=0.19 and for DBP p=0.43]. All investigated fixed dose antihypertensive combinations were found similarly effective in reducing blood pressure