Efficacy, tolerability and safety of Valsartan in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension at the University of Nigeria teaching hospital, Enugu

Abstract

An open label, optional titration trial to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of Valsartan 80mg o.d/Valsartan 160mg o.d. in patients with mild to moderate hypertension treated for eight weeks. Twenty consenting subjects (11 males and 9 females) aged 29 to 79 years (mean age 48. 2 ± 11. 9yrs) were treated for eight weeks with Valsartan. Ten of the 20 subjects (50%) had diastolic blood pressure (DBP) end point below 90mmhg while 4 had a DBP end point of 90mmHg. There was significant drop in DBP of the entire study population from 101.8± 6. 1mmHg to 89.9 ± 10.0 mmHg (P < 0.05). There was no significant drug induced effect on the body mass index (BMI) and the heart rate of the subjects. Only one patient (5%) complained of slight dizziness, which subsided within two days without any intervention. This study has demonstrated the efficacy, tolerability and safety of Valsartan 80mg and 160mg o.d. given for eight weeks in the study population.

Keywords: hypertension; Valsartan; tolerability; efficacy

Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 50 (2) 2006: pp 27-32