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Effect of olmesartan on blood pressure in patients with hypertension: specification on causality

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 29, pages 69–70 (2015)Cite this article

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I have read with interest a prospective observational study by Kario et al.1 concerning the effect of olmesartan on clinic and morning home blood pressures in patients with hypertension. The authors concluded that 16-week olmesartan-based treatment showed a sustained 24-hour blood pressure-lowering effect. As a supportive report, Yanagi et al.2 examined the beneficial effects of olmesartan add-on therapy on nighttime blood pressure and renal injury in hypertensive chronic kidney disease patients following up of 16 weeks. I have some concerns on the study by Kario et al.

First, the authors did not classify patients according to the combination of antihypertensive agents, especially with calcium channel blockers. The combination of olmesartan and calcium channel blockers is frequently observed in clinical practice, and the combination of antihypertensive agents is important for the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. Ogawa et al.3 reported a significant reduction of cardiovascular events and non-cardiovascular death by olmesartan/calcium channel blocker combination than single high-dose olmesartan in elderly hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In addition, Matsui et al.4 reported a significant effect of olmesartan/azelnidipine combination on the reduction of home blood pressure variability (BPV) compared with olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide combination, although there was no significant difference in the reduction of home blood pressure between the 2 groups. Kario, as a principal investigator of this study, explained the difference of BPV by the ability of arterial stiffness reduction.

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References

  1. Kario K, Saito I, Kushiro T, Teramukai S, Ishikawa Y, Hiramatsu K et al. Effect of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist olmesartan on morning home blood pressure in hypertension: HONEST Study at 16 weeks. J Hum Hypertens 2013; 27: 721–728.

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  1. Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-Ku, Japan

    T Kawada

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  1. T Kawada
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Correspondence to T Kawada.

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Kawada, T. Effect of olmesartan on blood pressure in patients with hypertension: specification on causality. J Hum Hypertens 29, 69–70 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2013.150

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