[A multicenter study comparing nitrendipine and chlorthalidone in elderly hypertensive patients]

Abstract

One hundred and eleven low-moderate hypertense elderly patients treated with nitrenpidine or chlortalidone were studied during 4 months either on monotherapy or in combination according to the therapeutic response observed. The therapeutic goal (diastolic arterial pressure less than 95 mmHg) was obtained in 92.4% of patients on nintrenpidine and in 49.1% on chlortidone, both on monotherapy (2 months) (p less than 0.001). At the end of the study 96.3% of patients reaches the therapeutic goal. Secondary effects were observed in 8.3% of patients on nitrenpidine and 6.1% on chlortalidone and in 11.1% of patients on combined treatment. No abnormalities were observed in blood biochemistry studied nor was there evidence of a significant influence of any of the two drugs on the patients quality of life which was evaluated through a specific questionnaire specially designed.