Efficacy of amlodipine-valsartan combination in hypertensive patients and its effects on pulse wave velocity

AIM:To observe the efficacy of amlodipine-valsartan combination in hypertensive patients and its effects on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). METHODS: One hundred hypertensive patients were randomly divided into amlodipine-valsartan group (n=50) and amlodipine group (n=50). Blood pressure, heart rate and pulse wave velocity were measured for each group before and after 24-week treatment. RESULTS: After the 24-week treatment, SBP, DBP, and baPWV of the hypertensive patients in amlodipine-valsartan combination group were significantly lower than that of amlodipine group ［SBP: (114±9) mmHg vs.(131±14) mmHg; DBP: (72±7) mmHg vs.(84±8) mmHg; baPWV: (1457±198) cm/s vs.(1544±222) cm/sec, all P<0.05). In the amlodipine-valsartan combination group, heart rate of the hypertensive patients were significantly lower ［(74±12)/min vs.(68±11)/min, P<0.05］ after treatment, whereas in the amlodipine group no significant difference ［(73±10)/min vs.(72±9)/min］ was observed. The total efficacy rate of amlodipine-valsartan combination group was higher than that of the amlodipine group (86% vs. 64%, P<0.05). Four hypertensive patients reported headache and two patients in the amlodipine-valsartan combination group had cough. Thirteen hypertensive patients had peripheral edema in the amlodipine group. All symptoms gradually disappeared with the ongoing treatment. No severe adverse side effects occurred during the 24-week treatment. CONCLUSION: Initial combination therapy for hypertension with amlodipine-valsartan is superior to amlodipine monotherapy in efficacy, safety and reversing arteriosclerosis.