Comparison of efficacy of calcium channel blockers with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the treatment of essential hypertension in elderly men

To cornpare efficacy of calcium channel blockers [CCBs] with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] in the treatment of elderly men [age more than 55 years] with essential hypertension. Randomized controlled trial. Military Hospital Rawalpindi, one year [From September 2005 to September 2006]. One hundred male patients with stage 2 hypertension, aged more than 55 years, meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized in 2 groups by non-probability convenience sampling. One group received calcium channel blockers [CCBs], and the other group received angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] daily for duration of 6 months from the day of enrolment during the one year study period. Reductions in blood pressure means were observed in both groups after six months of therapy i.e. 28.52 mm Hg [with CCBs] and 26.4 mm Hg [with ACEIs] for systolic blood pressure and 16.32 mm Hg [with CCBs] and 13.4 mm Hg [with ACEIs] for diastolic blood pressure. The mean drop of systolic blood pressure in group 1 was 2.12 mm Hg more than group 2 and was significant [p value < 0.05]. The mean drop of diastolic blood pressure in group 1 was 2.92 mm Hg more than group 2 and was significant [p value < 0.05]. The study suggests that calcium channel blockers have a superior efficacy in controlling blood pressure; both systolic as well as diastolic, as compared to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors for stage 2 hypertension in elderly men