Changes in Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women: Comparison Between a Calcium Channel Blocker vs Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Regimen

Abstract

Postmenopausal women are at greater risk for hypertension-related cardiovascular disease. Antihypertensive therapy may help alleviate arterial stiffness that represents a potential modifiable risk factor of hypertension. This randomized controlled study investigated the difference between an angiotensin receptor blocker and a calcium channel blocker in reducing arterial stiffness. Overall, 125 postmenopausal hypertensive women (age, 61.4±6years; systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure [SBP/DBP], 158±11/92±9mmHg) were randomized to valsartan 320mg±hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (n=63) or amlodipine 10mg±HCTZ (n=62). The primary outcome was carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) changes after 38weeks of treatment. Both treatments lowered peripheral blood pressure (BP) (-22.9/-10.9mmHg for valsartan and -25.2/-11.7mmHg for amlodipine, P=not significant) and central BP (-15.7/-7.6mmHg for valsartan and -19.2/-10.3mmHg for amlodipine, P