Characteristics of 15314 hypertensive patients at high coronary risk. The VALUE Trial

Valsartan is an orally active, selective antagonist of the angiotensin II-1 (AT1) receptor developed for the treatment of hypertension. The Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation (VALUE) Trial of Cardiovascular E vents in Hypertension in a double-blind, randomized prospective, parallel g roup study designed to compare the effects of valsartan with those of the c alcium-antagonist amlodipine on the reduction of cardiac morbidity and mort ality. Patients with essential hypertension, aged 50 years and older, and a t particularly high risk of coronary events were enrolled. 18 119 patients were screened and 15314 patients in 31 countries were randomized mainly bet ween January 1998 and December 1999. These hypertensives had a mean blood p ressure of 154.7/87.5 mmHg at the time of their randomization to blinded me dication. The population comprises both genders (men 57.6%), Caucasians (89 .1%), mean age 67.2 years, mean body mass index 28.6 kg/m(2), coronary hear t disease (45.8%), high cholesterol (33.0%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (31.7 %) and smokers (24.0%). More than 92% of the randomized participants had be en treated for high blood pressure for at least 6 months when screened for the study. The randomized population is now being treated (goal blood press ure < 140/90 mmHg) in adherence with the protocol until at least 1450 patie nts experience primary cardiac endpoint defined as clinically evident or ab orted myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure or death cau sed by coronary heart disease.