CRYSTAL CITY, Va. (EGMN) – Nebivolol monotherapy significantly reduced high blood pressure in obese and nonobese Hispanic adults with stage I and II hypertension, based on data from 277 patients.
Although the prevalence of hypertension in Hispanic adults in the United States is similar to that of non-Hispanics, previous studies have shown that Hispanics are less likely to be aware of their hypertension, or to have it under control, said Dr. Henry Punzi of Trinity Hypertension and Metabolic Research Institute in Carrollton, Tex.
In a post hoc analysis of data from a phase IV, double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy trial, Dr. Punzi and his colleagues reviewed the safety and efficacy of nebivolol as a monotherapy for Hispanics with stage I or stage II hypertension. The researchers also stratified the study participants based on obesity status. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher.
The mean baseline blood pressure was 157/101 mm Hg in the obese participants and 155/100 mm Hg for the nonobese participants. After 8 weeks, the mean blood pressure in the nebivolol-treated obese and nonobese participants was 142/90 mm Hg and 141/88 mm Hg. The improvement in blood pressure was significant, compared with the placebo groups of both obese and nonobese participants.
The starting dose of nebivolol was 5 mg/day, with titration up to 10 mg/day after week 2, 20 mg/day after week 4, and 40 kg/day after week 6.
Nebivolol had no significant effect on fasting plasma glucose levels, regardless of obesity status, which is important given the high rates of diabetes in Hispanics in the United States, compared with non-Hispanics, Dr. Punzi noted in a poster at the annual meeting of the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks. After 8 weeks of treatment, the average fasting plasma glucose levels in the obese participants who took nebivolol and placebo were 5.86 and 6.13. In nonobese participants, the average fasting plasma glucose levels for nebivolol and placebo were 6.10 and 5.61. None of these numbers changed significantly from the baseline measures.
Adverse events were mild, and they were reported by 23% of the nebivolol group and 24% of the placebo group. No participants in either group dropped out of the study because of an adverse event, Dr. Punzi said. Headaches were the most common adverse event, reported by 17 obese participants (10 in the placebo group and 7 in the nebivolol group) and 5 nonobese patients (3 in the placebo group and 2 in the nebivolol group).
The study was sponsored by Forest Laboratories, Inc. Dr. Punzi had no financial conflicts to disclose, but one of his study collaborators is employed by the Forest Research Institute.