The HOPE TIPS: the HOPE study translated into practices.

The HOPE TIPS study assessed the practicality and tolerability of ramipril titration to a target dose of 10 mg (as achieved in definitive efficacy studies) in a clinical practice setting. 3881 patients at high cardiovascular risk (HOPE study criteria) were recruited in primary and specialist care settings in 9 countries by 439 investigators. Dose titration of ramipril from 2.5 mg to 10 mg daily took place over 9-12 weeks. The mean age of the patients was 64 years, 60% were male and 79% Asian. The target dosage of 10 mg daily was reached in 73% of patients with 96% of patients achieving 5 mg or 10 mg daily. During the study period uncontrolled hypertension (> 160/90) was recorded in 15% of patients, myocardial infarction or unstable angina 1.6%, heart failure 0.4%, new diabetes 0.6%. Only 9.8% of patients discontinued treatment with 5.9% attributed to treatment side-effects and 4% related to cough. The large majority of patients in a wide range of clinical practice settings with high cardiovascular risk can be treated with ramipril titrated to 10 mg daily with good tolerability.