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| |  Study Shows Comparable Efficacy Among Three Blood Pressure Drugs In African Americans ATLANTA, GA -- Oct. 13, 1998 -- A clinical trial found comparable safety and efficacy among three medications commonly used to lower blood pressure in African Americans, according to a report published in the current issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The implications are critical to African Americans, a population known to have a higher incidence of hypertension and less access to health-care resources. If not treated, hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney and eye problems and even death. Results of the randomised, double-blind Calcium Antagonists in Blacks (CAB) trial, showed the once-daily calcium channel antagonist Adalat CC(R) (nifedipine CC) to be equivalent to once-daily calcium channel antagonists, Procardia XL(R) (nifedipine GITS) and Norvasc(R) (amlodipine) in maintaining blood pressure control over eight weeks. Further, all drugs showed a similar reduction in blood pressure. The incidence and severity of side effects were also equivalent. The study was conducted by the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB) and supported by Bayer Corp. "The CAB trial shows us that all three of these commonly used medications provide comparable 24-hour blood pressure control and can be used safely for the treatment of hypertension in the African-American population," said co-principal CAB investigator Dallas Hall, MD, MACP and ISHIB founder. The results of the CAB trial could also mean substantial cost savings for patients and health-care providers since Adalat CC is less expensive at comparable doses than Norvasc or Procardia XL in controlling blood pressure. The CAB trial is the first of its kind to directly compare three calcium channel antagonists in African-American patients. "African Americans are at higher risk of hypertension than any other race or ethnic group, yet few studies have examined treatment effects exclusively in African Americans," said James Reed, MD, CAB lead investigator and president of ISHIB. "There is a great need to increase minority representation in all aspects of clinical research." Hypertension affects more than one-third of African-American adults compared to one quarter of American adults in the general population. In addition to being more common, hypertension is also more dangerous in African Americans than in whites. In 1995, mortality rates from high blood pressure were 31.0 and 22.2 per 100,000 black males and females respectively versus 6.8 and 5.0 per 100,000 white males and females respectively. The CAB trial, conducted at 10 United States sites, evaluated the effects of Adalat CC, Procardia XL and Norvasc in 163 patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the average reduction in 24-hour ambulatory diastolic blood pressure. Secondary endpoints included a comparison of average 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure, office blood pressure (SBP or DBP) reduction, responder rates, safety and tolerability. After eight weeks of therapy with Adalat CC, Procardia XL or Norvasc, there was no significant difference in the average 24-hour ambulatory diastolic (-9.0, -8.5 and -6.1 mm Hg, respectively) or systolic (-15.7, -14.3 and -11.8 mm Hg, respectively) blood pressure reduction. Discontinuation rates and adverse event frequency were distributed similarly across the three treatment groups. Adverse effects reported in the study included dizziness, cough, edema, flushing and headache. Related Links: Archives of Internal Medicine
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