[Treatment of hypertension in daily practice. Current results of a postmarketing surveillance study with telmisartan].

AIM: Evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan monotherapy and telmisartan plus hydrochlorothiazide in daily practice. METHODS: Patients with arterial hypertension were included in this non-interventional, observational study. Demographic data, medical history, therapy with telmisartan and telmisartan plus hydrochlorothiazide as well as blood pressure and heart rate at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks were recorded by 1211 physicians. Moreover, overall efficacy and tolerability were assessed. Adverse events and adverse drug reactions were documented. RESULTS: Out of 6319 patients 52.9% were male. Mean age was 59.9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.8 kg/m2. 70% of patients had grade 2 or 3 hypertension, 59% had a high or very high additional cardiovascular risk. In 34.6% of patients hypertension was newly diagnosed, while the remaining 65.4% had been hypertensive for an average of 7.2 years. 3386 patients initially received telmisartan (54%: 40 mg; 45.4%: 80 mg). 2928 patients were given telmisartan plus hydrochlorothiazide (56.9%: 80/12.5 mg; 43.1%: 40/12.5 mg). In 69.8% of the patients the dose remained unchanged throughout the study. The remaining patients were either given a higher dose or changed over to the combination. Under treatment, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by an average of 28.5 mmHg and 14.1 mmHg, respectively. Mean pulse pressure decreased by 14.4 mmHg. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed "very good" or "good" in 94.2% of all patients, and tolerability in 98.8%. Adverse events occurred in 43 (0.7%) patients, and adverse drug reactions in 28 (0.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: Under daily practice conditions telmisartan monotherapy and telmisartan plus hydrochlorothiazide are very effective and well tolerated. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as pulse pressure are effectively lowered.