Long‐Acting Diltiazem CD Is Safe and Effective in a Hypertensive Mexican‐American Population

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of diltiazem CD for reducing blood pressure in Mexican-American patients with mild to moderate hypertension. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Twelve clinical sites in the United States. PATIENTS: Patients with baseline diastolic blood pressures between 95 and 115 mm Hg. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated with an average daily dose of diltiazem CD 246 mg (60 patients) or placebo (58 patients) to achieve a trough diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Diltiazem CD significantly reduced mean diastolic blood pressure compared with placebo, -8.2 versus -4.1 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.0025). Diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg or a reduction of 10 mm Hg or more was achieved by 57% of diltiazem CD versus 28% of placebo recipients. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate were also reduced with diltiazem CD. Adverse events were mild, with similar frequency for diltiazem CD (15%) and placebo (19%). CONCLUSION: Diltiazem CD is safe and effective in hypertensive Mexican-Americans, and diastolic blood pressure reductions compare with those in non-Hispanic white patients.