Effect of losartan on ventricular arrhythmia in elderly patients with hypertension / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of losartan on ventricular arrhythmia in elderly patients with hypertension.Methods The 78 hypertension subjects with ventricular arrhythmia aged 65 to 89 years were randomly assigned to treatment with losartan or placebo (enalapril) for 12 months. The blood pressure, left ventricular mass index and ventricular arrhythmia were observed and analyzed.ResultsAfter 12 months treatment, the pressure lowering effect was similar in losartan versus enalapril groups, there were no differences in systolic pressure decrement and diastolic pressure decrement between the two groups (P＞0. 05). Left ventricular mass index was lower in enalapril groupthaninlosartangroup [(109.2±15. 4) g · m-2 vs. (128.5±16. 7) g · m-2, t=2.015, P＜0. 05].However, the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmia was lower in losartan group than in enalapril group [(628. 5±176.8)/24 h vs. (852.9±215.7)/24 h, t=2.417,P＜0.05]. No Pearson's correlations of reduction of ventricular arrhythmia with reduction of blood pressure (systolic r=0. 094, P＞0. 05; diastolic r= 0.08, P＞0. 05) and reduction of left ventricular mass index were found. in losartan group.Conclusions Initiation of antihypertensive treatment with losartan in elderly subjects appears to cause more reduction of ventricular arrhythmia than with enalapril, despite similar reduction of blood pressure.