Effects of valsartan on P-wave dispersion in elderly patients with essential hypertension

Objective To compare the effects of valsartan and amlodipine on P-wave dispersion(Pd) after 16-week treatment in elderly patients with essential hypertension.Methods Sixty-eight elderly mild to moderate hypertensive patients with sinus rhythm were randomly assigned to two groups of 34 patients each.The test group and control group took valsartan and amlodipine,respectively.Clinical blood pressure was evaluated every day,12-lead surface electrocardiograms were taken and left atrial diameter was measured by echocardiography before and after 16-week drug therapy.Results Compared with the baseline,the post-treatment values of systolic blood pressure(P0.001),diastolic blood pressure(P0.001),and left ventricular mass index (P0.05) were significantly decreased in both groups and the extents of decrease were similar between two groups.After 16-week treatment,the maximum P-wave duration(Pmax) and Pd were significantly decreased in both groups(P0.001),and the decrease was more marked in test group than in control group(P0.01 for Pmax;P0.05 for Pd).Conclusions Both valsartan and amlodipine are effective drugs to reduce blood pressure,reverse left ventricular hypertrophy,and cause similar blood pressure reduction.Valsartan has much greater lowering effect on Pmax and Pd values than amlodipine.