HYPERTENSION IN THE ELDERLY - 24 H AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE RESULTS FROM A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Calcium channel blockers are increasingly used to treat hypertension i n elderly patients. To assess the effects of low-dose, long-acting ver apamil on blood pressure (BP) and quality of life (QOL) in elderly pat ients, verapamil 120-240 mg of placebo was given once daily for 8 week s to 76 patients aged greater than or equal to 60 years. After a 4-wee k placebo wash-out period, patients with a sitting DBP of 95-110 mm Hg and a mean daytime (6 am to 6 pm) ambulatory DBP greater than or equa l to 90 mm Hg were entered into the study, Twenty four-hour BP monitor ing as well as QOL self-assessment and digit span testing of cognitive function were performed at the end of the placebo wash-out and double -blind treatment periods. Patients treated with verapamil showed a sig nificant decrease in mean whole-day BP, while those treated with place bo showed a small increase in BP. Treatment differences between the tw o groups in SEP and DBP were each statistically significant (P < 0.01) . Significant differences were also seen when the 24 h period was divi ded into daytime and night-time readings. Both QOL and digit span test ing scores were unchanged from baseline for verapamil-treated patients and were not different from the placebo-treated group. The results of this study demonstrate consistent and significant decreases in BP thr oughout the 24 h period with no adverse effects on QOL or cognitive fu nction this this formulation of verapamil in elderly hypertensive pati ents.