Complications of hypertension and the role of angiotensin receptor blockers in hypertension trials

• Published in: Expert review of cardiovascular therapy Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 451 - 461
• Main Authors: Flaa, Arnljot, Aksnes, Tonje Amb, Strand, Arne, Kjeldsen, Sverre Erik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.05.2007; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers - therapeutic use; angiotensin II type I receptor blockers; atrial fibrillation; cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diabetes Mellitus - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus - prevention & control; heart failure; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - drug therapy; Kidney Diseases - etiology; Kidney Diseases - prevention & control; renal disease; renin-angiotensin system; Stroke - etiology; Stroke - prevention & control; Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 1477-9072; 1744-8344
• DOI: 10.1586/14779072.5.3.451

Hypertension is a high-prevalence disease that may affect several organs. In recent years, data have accumulated indicating that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may have a supplementary effect beyond lowering blood pressure. The aim of this review is to evaluate the impact of ARBs on the most important complications of hypertension - heart, cerebrovascular and renal diseases, and metabolic complications - based on the findings from large clinical hypertension trials. The results may indicate that ARBs have a superior effect compared with placebo or other antihypertensive drugs in order to prevent left ventricular hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, stroke, renal disease and diabetes mellitus, while there appears to be no blood pressure-independent superior effect of ARBs regarding prevention of myocardial infarction or heart failure.