Purpose: To evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of captopril 50 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily in mild to moderate primary hypertension.
Methods: Out-patients (n = 471) with mild to moderate hypertension, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 95-115 mmHg, with 15 days of washout, were included to the treatment initially with half tablet of the association of captopril 50 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg once daily, for 30 days. After this period, patients with DBP > 90 mmHg had the dosage duplicated, while the others had the same dosage for 60 days more. Evaluation was performed 15 days before and then every month during active drug.
Results: Twenty six patients were withdrawn, 13 (2.7%) by adverse effects and 13 by protocol violation. At the end of the wash-out period, the blood pressure (BP), 162 +/- 16/103 +/- 6 mmHg decreased significantly at the 30th day to 146 +/- 14/92 +/- 8 mmHg (p < 0.001 vs 0th day); 139 +/- 12/86 +/- 7 mmHg at the 60th day, (p < 0.001 vs 30th day), and further to 136 +/- 11/84 +/- 5 mmHg, (p < 0.001 vs day 0) till the end of the 90th day. Antihypertensive efficacy (DBP < or = 90 mmHg and decreased of the DBP > or = 10 mmHg) was obtained in 82% of the patients. There was no difference in BP control considering race, hypertension level, previous antihypertensive treatment and obesity. Cough (4%) was the main adverse event.
Conclusion: Captopril + hydrochlorothiazide was effective and safe in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. The favorable response was observed in 82% of the patients independently of race, hypertensive level, previous antihypertensive treatment and obesity. Low incidence of side effects was reported, with no difference from others reported in the literature.