Olmesartan medoxomil and azelnidipine therapy in patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease in Japan.

BACKGROUND: In the present investigation we extracted data on hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were enrolled in 3 studies - 2 studies of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan medoxomil (OLM), lasting 12 weeks and 2 years, respectively, and one of the calcium channel blocker (CCB) azelnidipine (AZ) lasting 12 weeks - to assess the effects of OLM and AZ on blood pressure (BP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria in hypertensive patients with CKD in the setting of daily clinical practice.

METHODS: The 3 studies followed open prospective cohort designs that represented daily clinical practice in Japan. Patients with CKD at baseline were selected. Change of BP, eGFR and proteinuria on OLM therapy or AZ therapy were analyzed.

RESULTS: At 12 weeks, OLM (n=1,317) and AZ (n=952) therapies exhibited similar BP-lowering effects. AZ led to a significantly (p=0.0069) greater increase of eGFR compared with OLM, while OLM tended to improve proteinuria to a greater extent than AZ. Treatment with OLM for 2 years (n=109) significantly improved proteinuria but did not alter eGFR.

CONCLUSION: This study shows that OLM and AZ reduced BP and proteinuria without decreasing eGFR in Japanese hypertensive patients with CKD in the setting of daily clinical practice.