ramipril and Stroke

Recently, the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) blood pressure (BP) trial enrolled 4733 participants with type 2 diabetes and randomized them to a target systolic blood pressure (SBP) of less than 120 mm Hg or 140 mm Hg. Despite the significant difference in the achieved SBP, there was no significant difference in the incidence of primary outcomes. Based on this evidence, the target SBP for diabetics has been revised in the majority of major guidelines. However, there is a steeper association between SBP and stroke in Asians than other ethnicities, with stroke being the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. This suggests that target BP in the Asian region should be tailored towards prevention of stroke. In the ACCORD study, the intensive BP treatment was associated with significant reductions in both total stroke and non-fatal stroke. The results from the ACCORD study are supported by a subgroup analysis from the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) study, which showed that, in diabetic patients, the risk of stroke continues to decrease to a SBP value of 115 mm Hg with no evidence of J curve. As diabetes is highly associated with underlying coronary artery disease, there is a justified concern for adverse effects resulting from too much lowering of BP. In a post hoc analysis of 6400 diabetic subjects enrolled in the International Verapamil SR-Trandolapril (INVEST) study, subjects with SBP of less than 110 mm Hg were associated with a significant increase in all-cause mortality. In the ONTARGET study, at any levels of achieved SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) below 67 mm Hg was associated with increased risk for cardiovascular outcomes. As such, a prudent approach would be to target a SBP of 130-140 mm Hg and DBP of above 60 mm Hg in diabetics with coronary artery disease. In conclusion, hypertension, in association with diabetes, has been found to be significantly correlated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular events. As the association between stroke and BP is stronger in Asians, compared to other ethnicities, consideration should be given for a target BP of 130/80 mm Hg in Asians.

Topics: Aged; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Disease; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Hypotension; Male; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Reference Values; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the polypill for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke and to present literature related to the polypill components (statin, aspirin, antihypertensive) for primary prevention of CVD and stroke.. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (1948-January 2011) and EMBASE (1974-January 2011) using the terms polypill and Polycap. When limited to clinical trials, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses, 7 studies were identified. Bibliographies of pertinent review articles and studies were scanned for additional references. A similar search was conducted to identify literature related to the use of polypill components for primary prevention of CVD and stroke.. Studies that evaluated the hypothetical benefits of a polypill and controlled trials that assessed a formulation of the polypill related to prevention of CVD and stroke were included. Studies were assessed for efficacy, safety, drug interactions, and clinical pharmacokinetics.. An initial study to predict benefit estimated that a hypothetical polypill would reduce diastolic blood pressure by 11 mm Hg and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 70 mg/dL, thus reducing the relative risks of CVD and stroke by 88% and 80%, respectively. One clinical trial in patients at low risk for CVD and stroke found that diastolic blood pressure was reduced by 1.6 mm Hg and LDL-C was reduced by 17.7 mg/dL, correlating with 44% and 21% reduction in the relative risks of CVD and stroke, respectively. Studies in higher risk patients reported reductions in systolic blood pressure of up to 28.8 mm Hg and in LDL-C of up to 54 mg/dL, correlating with 62% and 60% relative reduction in risks of CVD and stroke, respectively.. Polypill study results have been more modest than originally theorized. However, results show promise in patients at higher risk for CVD and stroke.

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Aspirin; Atenolol; Cardiovascular Diseases; Drug Combinations; Humans; Hydrochlorothiazide; Hypolipidemic Agents; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Primary Prevention; Ramipril; Simvastatin; Stroke

Renin-angiotensin system blockers have been shown to reduce stroke risk, partly independent of their blood pressure-lowering effect. The PReventiOn regimen For Effectively avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) trial, ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) and Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in aCE-iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) recently showed potential benefits of the angiotensin II receptor blocker, telmisartan, in reducing secondary strokes. In PRoFESS, 20 332 ischemic stroke patients were randomized to telmisartan 80 mg versus placebo and to two antiplatelets in a 2 x 2 factorial design. After a mean exposure of 2 years, telmisartan showed a nonsignificant lower rate of recurrent stroke versus placebo [880 versus 934; hazard ratio 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-1.04]. In a post-hoc analysis, from 6 months, telmisartan significantly reduced the number of strokes versus placebo (533 versus 608; hazard ratio 0.88; 95% CI 0.78-0.99; P = 0.042). In the stroke subgroup of ONTARGET, telmisartan 80 mg showed a trend toward reducing recurrent stroke versus ramipril 10 mg (hazard ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.79-1.05). In the TRANSCEND study, 5926 patients who were intolerant to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were treated with 80 mg telmisartan or placebo. In a combined analysis of PRoFESS and TRANSCEND, the incidence of the composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death was 12.8% for telmisartan versus 13.8% for placebo (hazard ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.85-0.98; P = 0.013).

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke

Perindopril is a long-acting, once-daily lipophilic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor with high tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme affinity, lowering angiotensin II and potentiating bradykinin. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of perindopril are well established in the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. Moreover, large morbidity-mortality trials, such as the EUROPA, PROGRESS, and PREAMI have shown that treatment with perindopril reduces morbidity and mortality and prevents cardiovascular disease in a large range of patients with vascular diseases, whether or not they are hypertensive. Thus, the outcomes of these and other trials support the concept of cardiovascular protective properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with perindopril in addition to the obvious blood-pressure-lowering effect. Considering its properties and the clinical evidence on efficacy and tolerability that has been gathered, perindopril should be considered a first-line therapeutic agent in hypertension, heart failure and acute myocardial infarction and a tool of secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Indoles; Male; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Perindopril; Prospective Studies; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk; Risk Factors; Stroke; Time Factors

Recent meta-analyses have examined the relationship between lowering blood pressure (BP) and reducing the risk for stroke and dementia. Studies have shown that drug therapy that successfully reduces systolic BP by only 10 mm Hg results in significant protection against stroke. Controversy exists regarding the most effective regimen, with supporters for the standards of diuretics and beta-blockers, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers, pitted against the increasing evidence of the effectiveness of angiotensin-receptor blockers or statins. Additionally, the most effective strategy for delivery of BP-reducing therapy is being examined, with some studies supporting use of standards for primary prevention of stroke and reserving the newer drugs for secondary prevention. Ultimately, however, all agree that for patients with the highest risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, the strategy of intervention is immaterial, and drug therapy, including low-dose aspirin, is vital.

Topics: Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Biphenyl Compounds; Blood Pressure; Calcium Channel Blockers; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition; Dementia; Hydrochlorothiazide; Ramipril; Stroke; Tetrazoles; Verapamil

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Arteriosclerosis; C-Reactive Protein; Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Inflammation; Myocardial Infarction; Prognosis; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin II; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diuretics; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Hypertension; Life Style; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Ramipril; Risk; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation study was a landmark study employing the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril in a patient population pre-destined for vascular events. This study found that a 10 mg dose of ramipril in comparison with placebo reduced the incidence of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death from cardiovascular causes by 22%. This improvement in outcome was viewed as a direct consequence of ramipril, although the fact that blood pressure was reduced with ramipril has cast some considerable doubt on this supposition. Whether the observed findings in this study are a 'class effect' for all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors is unclear. To its credit, ramipril is the first angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor shown to prevent ischemic events in high-risk patients without discernible left ventricular dysfunction. Other similar trials are underway, which are studying similar populations to those included in this landmark study and should resolve the question of whether the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are a 'class effect'.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke

Studies have shown a non-linear relationship between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and outcomes, with increased risk observed at both low and high blood pressure (BP) levels. We hypothesized that the BP-risk association is different in individuals with and without diabetes at high cardiovascular risk.. We identified patients with (N = 11 487) or without diabetes (N = 19 450), from 30 937 patients, from 133 centres in 44 countries with a median follow-up of 56 months in the ONTARGET/TRANSCEND studies. Patients had a prior history of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), peripheral artery disease, or were high-risk diabetics. Patients in ONTARGET had been randomized to ramipril 10 mg daily, telmisartan 80 mg daily, or the combination of both. Patients in TRANSCEND were ACE intolerant and randomized to telmisartan 80 mg daily or matching placebo. We analysed the association of mean achieved in-trial SBP and DBP with the composite outcome of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke and hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF), the components of the composite, and all-cause death. Data were analysed by Cox regression and restricted cubic splines, adjusting for risk markers including treatment allocation and accompanying cardiovascular treatments. In patients with diabetes, event rates were higher across the whole spectrum of SBP and DBP compared with those without diabetes (P < 0.0001 for the primary composite outcome, P < 0.01 for all other endpoints). Mean achieved in-trial SBP ≥160 mmHg was associated with increased risk for the primary outcome [diabetes/no diabetes: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.31 (1.93-2.76)/1.66 (1.36-2.02) compared with non-diabetics with SBP 120 to <140 mmHg], with similar findings for all other endpoints in patients with diabetes, and for MI and stroke in patients without diabetes. In-trial SBP <120 mmHg was associated with increased risk for the combined outcome in patients with diabetes [HR 1.53 (1.27-1.85)], and for cardiovascular death and all-cause death in all patients. In-trial DBP ≥90 mmHg was associated with increased risk for the primary outcome [diabetes/no diabetes: HR 2.32 (1.91-2.82)/1.61 (1.35-1.93) compared with non-diabetics with DBP 70 to <80 mmHg], with similar findings for all other endpoints, but not for CHF hospitalizations in patients without diabetes. In-trial DBP <70 mmHg was associated with increased risk for the combined outcome in all patients [diabetes/no diabetes: HR 1.77 (1.51-2.06)/1.30 (1.16-1.46)], and also for all other endpoints except stroke.. High on treatment BP levels (≥160 or ≥90 mmHg) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes and death. Also low levels (<120 or <70 mmHg) are associated with increased cardiovascular outcomes (except stroke) and death. Patients with diabetes have consistently higher risks over the whole BP range, indicating that achieving optimal BP goals is most impactful in this group. These data favour guidelines taking lower BP boundaries into consideration, in particular in diabetes.. http://clinicaltrials.gov.Unique identifier: NCT00153101.

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Determination; Cardiovascular Diseases; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Diastole; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Ramipril; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke; Systole; Telmisartan

Current guidelines of hypertensive management recommend upper limits for systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). J-curve associations of BP with risk exist for some outcomes suggesting that lower limits of DBP goals may also apply. We examined the association between mean attained DBP and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in patients who achieved an on-treatment SBP in the range of 120 to <140 mmHg in the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) and Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant participants with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) trials on patients with high CV risk. This SBP range was associated with the lowest CV risk.. We analysed the outcome data from patients age 55 years or older with CV disease from the ONTARGET and TRANSCEND trials that randomized high-risk patients to ramipril, telmisartan, and the combination. In patients with controlled SBP (on-treatment 120 to <140 mmHg), the composite outcome of CV death, myocardial infarction, stroke and hospital admission for heart failure, the components thereof, and all-cause mortality were analysed according to mean on-treatment DBP as categorical (<70, 70 to <80, 80 to <90, and ≥90 mmHg) and continuous variable as well as the change of DBP according to baseline DBP. Pulse pressure (PP) was related to outcomes as a continuous variable.. In 16 099 of 31 546 patients, mean achieved SBP was 120 to <140 mmHg. The nominally lowest risk for all outcomes was observed at an achieved DBP of 70 to <80 mmHg. A higher achieved DBP was associated with a higher risk for the outcomes of stroke and of hospitalization for heart failure (≥80 mmHg) and myocardial infarction (≥90 mmHg). A lower achieved DBP (<70 mmHg) was associated with a higher risk for the primary outcome [hazard ratio (HR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.15-1.45; P < 0.0001], myocardial infarction HR 1.54 (95% CI 1.26-1.88, P < 0.0001) and hospitalization for heart failure HR 1.81 (95% CI 1.47-2.24, P < 0.0001) and all-cause death (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.35; P < 0.0001) while there was no signal for stroke and CV death compared to DBP 70 to <80 mmHg. A decrease of DBP was associated with lower risk when baseline DBP was >80 mmHg. The associations to outcomes were similar when patients were divided to SBP 120 to <130 mmHg or 130 to <140 mmHg for DBP or PP.. Compared to a DBP of 70 to <80 mmHg, lower and higher DBP was associated with a higher risk in patients achieving a SBP of 120 to <140 mmHg. Associations of DBP and PP to risk were similar notably at controlled SBP. These data suggest at optimal achieved SBP, risk is still defined by low or high DBP. These findings support guidelines which take DBP at optimal SBP control into consideration.

Topics: Aged; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Risk Assessment; Single-Blind Method; Stroke; Telmisartan; Treatment Outcome

Excessively high and low achieved blood pressure (BP) may be associated with a bad outcome in patients with coronary artery disease, the J curve phenomenon. The effect of BP changes from baseline in relation with the subsequent risk of stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown. Of the 25 620 patients randomized in the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) study, we selected 19 102 patients with coronary artery disease at baseline. BP at entry was 141/82 mm Hg, and its average decrease during follow-up was 7/6 mm Hg. BP entered the analysis as time-varying variable modeled with restricted cubic splines. After adjustment for several potential determinants of reverse causality, a change in BP from baseline by -34/-21 mm Hg (10th percentile) was associated with a lesser risk of stroke without any significant increase in the risk of MI. A rise in systolic/diastolic BP from baseline by 20/10 mm Hg (90th percentile) was associated with an increased risk of stroke, whereas the risk of MI increased with systolic BP and not with diastolic BP. In conclusion, in patients with coronary artery disease and initially free from congestive heart failure, a BP reduction from baseline over the examined BP range had little effect on the risk of MI and predicted a lower risk of stroke. An increase in systolic BP from baseline increased the risk of stroke and MI. The relationships of BP with risk were much steeper for stroke than for MI. A treatment-induced BP reduction over the explored range seems to be safe in patients with coronary artery disease.. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00153101.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Coronary Artery Disease; Diastole; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Systole; Telmisartan; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

In the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Trial (ONTARGET), dual agent renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) did not reduce the risk of renal and cardiovascular outcomes compared with the single use of either agent. Dual therapy however increased the incidence of hyperkalemia. We examined risk factors for hyper- and hyokalemia and hypothesized that both would be associated with worse cardiovascular and renal outcomes.. A post-hoc analysis of the ONTARGET trial comparing dual therapy (ramipril and telmisartan) vs monotherapy (ramipril or telmisartan) was performed. The association between serum potassium at week 6 on cardiovascular and renal outcomes during the 56 months follow-up was assessed by multivariate Cox analysis. The main cardiovascular outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. The renal outcome was defined as the composite of a doubling of serum creatinine or chronic dialysis.. Six weeks after randomization, hyperkalemia developed in 210 (2.7%) patients on dual therapy vs. 264 (1.6%) patients on monotherapy (p < 0.001 vs. dual therapy). Hypokalemia developed in 87 (1.1%) patients on dual therapy vs. 200 (1.2%)patients on monotherapy. Serum potassium was nonlinearly associated with cardiovascular and renal events with a nadir between 4.0-5.0 mmol/l for cardiovascular and 4.0-4.5 mmol/l for renal events such that subjects above or below these values exhibited higher risks. This association was independent of age, gender, diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate, systolic blood pressure and diuretic use.. With the precautions stipulated by the protocol of the ONTARGET trial, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia were infrequent events. Nevertheless, both high and low serum potassium were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Creatinine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Hypertension; Hypokalemia; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Nonlinear Dynamics; Odds Ratio; Potassium; Proportional Hazards Models; Ramipril; Renal Dialysis; Renin-Angiotensin System; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

Evidence on new-onset atrial fibrillation in high-risk vascular patients without heart failure is limited. New-onset atrial fibrillation was a prespecified secondary objective of the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET)/Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) studies.. We studied 30 424 ONTARGET/TRANSCEND patients (mean age ± SD, 66.4 ± 7.0) with vascular disease or complicated diabetes who were in sinus rhythm at entry. A copy of ECG was sent to central office every time new atrial fibrillation was detected by investigators.. During a median follow-up period of 4.7 years, new atrial fibrillation occurred in 2092 patients (15.1 per 1000  patient-years). Risk of atrial fibrillation increased with age, SBP and pulse pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, BMI, serum creatinine and history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease (all P < 0.01). After adjustment for BMI and other variables, atrial fibrillation risk increased with hip circumference. History of hypertension was associated with a 34% higher risk of new atrial fibrillation. New atrial fibrillation portended an increased risk of congestive heart failure [hazard ratio 2.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45-3.40, P < 0.01] and cardiovascular death (hazard ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.41, P < 0.01). Risk of stroke was unaffected (hazard ratio 1.14, 95% CI 0.93-1.40), whereas that of myocardial infarction was reduced (hazard ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.50-0.82). Patients with new atrial fibrillation were more likely to receive vitamin K antagonists (P < 0.01), statins (P < 0.05) and β-blockers (P < 0.01) than those in sinus rhythm.. New atrial fibrillation is common in high-risk vascular patients and is associated with several risk factors including history of hypertension. Hip circumference was the strongest anthropometric predictor. Despite extensive use of modern therapies, new atrial fibrillation carries a high risk of congestive heart failure and death over a relatively short term.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Anthropometry; Atrial Fibrillation; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Ramipril; Risk; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan; Vitamin K

Epidemiological data suggest that sex independently contributes to cardiovascular risk. Clinical trials are often hampered by the enrollment of few female patients.. The Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET) and the parallel Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE Intolerant Subjects With Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) included a large proportion of female patients (9378 female versus 22 168 male patients). Differences in male and female patients enrolled in ONTARGET/TRANSCEND were analyzed for the primary 4-fold end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or admission to hospital for heart failure), a secondary 3-fold end point (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke), and individual components of the primary composite. Baseline characteristics included age, ethnicity, body mass index, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, formal education, clinical diagnosis for study entry, patient history, and concomitant medication. Patients were followed up until death or the end of the study (median, 56 months). Compared with male patients, female patients had a 19% significantly lower risk for the 4-fold end point and 21% for the 3-fold end point (after adjustment for study, treatment, and the above baseline values). Similarly, the adjusted risk for cardiovascular death (17%) and myocardial infarction (22%), but not for stroke and hospitalization for heart failure, was also significantly lower in women. Diabetic female patients were characterized by a higher risk for acute myocardial infarction compared with diabetic male patients, whereas alcohol consumption resulted in significantly lower risk in women.. In our analysis made up of 70.3% male and 29.7% female patients, an ≈20% lower risk for the combined cardiovascular end points in female patients was observed despite treatment with cardioprotective agents. This difference was driven primarily by a significantly lower incidence of myocardial infarction. Thus, we demonstrate in a large interventional trial that sex greatly affects the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes mellitus.. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00153101.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Research Design; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

In the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET), dual therapy did not reduce cardiovascular or renal outcomes compared with either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers alone. Previous controlled trials with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers have demonstrated greater cardiovascular and renal benefit in people with renal risk. We hypothesized that dual therapy would be more effective than monotherapy in patients with low glomerular filtration rate and elevated albuminuria.. Post hoc analysis was performed of renal subgroups of dual therapy versus monotherapy for the ONTARGET study and angiotensin receptor blocker versus placebo for the Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE Intolerant Subjects With Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND). The studies featured hazard ratios by subgroups and Cox regression models with factors for treatment, subgroup, and interactions. The main cardiovascular outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure, and the main renal outcome was the composite of chronic dialysis or doubling of creatinine. In ONTARGET, there was no cardiovascular or renal benefit from dual over monotherapy in any subgroup, even with low glomerular filtration rate and/or elevated albuminuria. In TRANSCEND, in the comparison of angiotensin receptor blocker with placebo, there was a significant interaction for the main renal outcome (P = 0.01) in the direction of harm for patients with normoalbuminuria (0.37 versus 0.16 events per 100 patient-years; hazard ratio, 2.35; confidence interval, 1.33 to 4.15) but a trend to benefit with microalbuminuria (0.52 versus 0.89 events per 100 patient-years; hazard ratio, 0.60; confidence interval, 0.25 to 1.46) and macroalbuminuria (1.57 versus 2.60 events per 100 patient-years; hazard ratio, 0.71; confidence interval, 0.21 to 2.44).. This post hoc analysis does not support dual therapy over monotherapy in high-vascular risk patients with low glomerular filtration rate or albuminuria. This observation is a post hoc comparison and should be interpreted appropriately.. URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00153101.

Topics: Aged; Albuminuria; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Creatinine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Heart Failure; Heart Rate; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Telmisartan; Treatment Outcome

Hypertension treatment guidelines recommend that blood pressure (BP) be lowered to <140/90 mm Hg, but that a reduction to <130/80 mm Hg be adopted in patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. We investigated the CV and renal benefits associated with these BP targets in the high-CV-risk population of the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET).. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the proportion of in-treatment visits before the occurrence of an event (<25%->75%) in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg. After adjustment for demographic and clinical variables, a progressive increase in the proportion of visits in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg was associated with a progressive reduction in the risk of stroke, new onset of microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria, and return to normoalbuminuria in albuminuric patients. An increased frequency of BP control to either target did not have any consistent effect on the adjusted risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure. The adjusted risk of CV events was reduced by increasing the frequency of BP control to <140/90 mm Hg, but not to <130/80 mm Hg. Similar findings were obtained for the achievement of the BP target in the visit preceding a CV event.. The more frequent achievement of the BP targets recommended by guidelines led to cerebrovascular and renal protection, but did not increase cardiac protection. Overall, CV protection was favorably affected by the less tight but not by the tighter BP target. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00153101.

Topics: Aged; Albuminuria; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Incidence; Kidney Diseases; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Risk; Stroke; Telmisartan

The prognostic significance of left and right bundle branch block (LBBB and RRBB) in patients with chronic stable cardiovascular (CV) disease is not well characterized and was evaluated in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study cohort.. Observational analysis of data prospectively collected in the HOPE trial.. HOPE was a multicenter, international trial, which evaluated ramipril and vitamin E in 9,541 patients aged > or = 55 years with CV disease or diabetes with > or = 1 CV risk factor(s) but without heart failure (HF) or known left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Follow-up extended for a median of 4.5 years. Electrocardiograms were obtained at baseline in all study participants and were read centrally.. Major CV events (defined as CV death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), heart failure, CV death, all-cause death, and sudden death.. Baseline LBBB was present in 246 (2.6%) patients and was associated with increased risk for major CV events (HR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.18-2.02), CV death (HR 2.29; 95% CI, 1.63-3.20), heart failure (HR 2.99; 95% CI, 2.31-3.87), sudden death (HR 3.17; 95% CI, 2.13-4.73), and all-cause death (HR = 2.10; 95% CI, 1.59-2.77). In multivariate models, LBBB remained an independent predictor of heart failure, sudden death, CV death, and all-cause death (P < or = 0.002 for all). Baseline RBBB was present in 428 (4.5%) of patients and was not associated with increased CV risk.. In patients with stable chronic CV disease, LBBB but not RBBB is an independent predictor of heart failure, sudden death, CV death, and all-cause death.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Bundle-Branch Block; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chronic Disease; Death, Sudden; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Electrocardiography; Europe; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; North America; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Ramipril; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Stroke; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Diseases; Vitamin E

To evaluate the impact of microalbuminuria (MAU) or tubular proteinuria (TPU) on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality, and to assess whether a normalization of MAU and/or TPU induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor-based antihypertensive treatment with ramipril improves cerebrovascular prognosis in essential hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus.. A prospective, controlled, multicenter study was performed involving 3529 hypertensive participants (average follow-up 42.5 months). Ramipril was the basic antihypertensive medication. Proteinuria analysis (albumin, alpha 1-microglobulin, SDS electrophoresis) was performed by quantitative measurement every year. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed once yearly. The main outcome determined was cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality.. In patients with TPU and/or MAU, the risk for endpoints increased significantly compared with normal (TPU, 30.0%; MAU, 54.7%; MAU + TPU, 64.0%; macroproteinuria, 74.4%). A change of protein excretion either from pathologic to normal or from normal to pathologic showed a clear trend to correlate with cerebrovascular endpoints (P = 0.056 and P = 0.055). Normal protein excretion at baseline and during follow-up indicated a significantly better prognosis than pathologic proteinuria at baseline and during follow-up. (P < 0.0001). TPU normalized in 31.9%, MAU in 30.6%, MAU + TPU in 29.3%, and macroproteinuria in 10.2% of patients. A total of 445 (25.4%) patients with normal protein excretion developed pathologic proteinuria during follow-up.. In non-diabetic hypertensive patients, MAU as well as TPU increases the incidence of cardiovascular events. Normalization of MAU, TPU or macroproteinuria during angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor-based treatment correlates with a reduction of cardiovascular events. Beyond blood pressure control, normalization of MAU and TPU should be considered as a further therapeutic goal. There is a need for further studies to optimize treatment if proteinuria is unresponsive to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Topics: Aged; Albuminuria; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Biomarkers; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Proteinuria; Ramipril; Stroke

In recent large cardiovascular trials done in stable patients, 14-31% of the participants were smokers; the consequences of smoking in these trials using medications known to reduce cardiovascular events, have not been assessed.. We evaluated the cardiovascular outcomes according to smoking status of men and women participating in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation trial.. The occurrence of cardiovascular events was documented among participants who did not change their smoking status during the trial. There were 2728 'never smokers', 5241 'former smokers' and 936 'current smokers', and all had stable cardiovascular disease or diabetes with at least one other risk factor. None had previous congestive heart failure or known left ventricular ejection fraction < 0.40.. During the 4.5-year follow-up, there were 641 cardiovascular deaths, 978 myocardial infarctions, 358 strokes and 1021 deaths. In comparison to 'never smokers', smokers had relative risks adjusted for confounding variables including medications known to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, for cardiovascular death of 1.65 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-2.14], for myocardial infarction of 1.26 (95% CI, 1.01-1.58), for stroke of 1.42 (95% CI, 1.00-2.04), and for total mortality of 1.99 (95% CI, 1.63-2.44). The rates of these events among 'former smokers' were not different from those of 'never smokers'.. Smoking increased the risk of mortality and morbidity among high-risk patients despite the use of medications known to reduce cardiovascular events. Smoking cessation programs should be reinforced even for patients participating in clinical trials.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antioxidants; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Myocardial Infarction; Preventive Medicine; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Smoking; Stroke; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin E

The HOPE study was a 19 country, prospective randomized trial in which the ACE-inhibitor Ramipril but not Vitamin E significantly reduced the risk of future cardiovascular events in a high-risk population of men and women, including many with diabetes. The benefits were present in all sub-groups, independent of the presence or absence of diabetes, hypertension, evidence of cardiovascular disease, microalbuminuria, blood pressure lowering, the use of aspirin, lipid-lowering or antihypertensive medication. It provided clear evidence that Ramipril should safely and cost-effectively be used in individuals not known to have low ventricular ejection fraction or heart failure but at high-risk of cardiovascular events. It was also beneficial in patients with renal insufficiency, reducing progression of proteinuria and development of new microalbuminuria. It provided micro- and macrovascular benefits in people with diabetes, reduced the development of new cases of diabetes and showed a positive and graded association between the waist-to-hip ratio and the risk of developing diabetes. Sub-studies completed and on-going into the predictive role of natriuretic peptides, infectious and inflammatory markers, provide insight into possible mechanisms of action of Ramipril.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Aspirin; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diabetes Complications; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Inflammation; Kidney Diseases; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Prospective Studies; Ramipril; Stroke; Ventricular Function, Left; Vitamin E

We evaluated the effects of long-term therapy with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril on major cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in high-risk women.. The effect of long-term ACE inhibitor therapy in high-risk women without heart failure and with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function has not been previously reported.. The Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial is a large, randomized clinical trial that evaluated ramipril and vitamin E in high-risk patients. We present the preplanned analysis of the effects of ramipril in women in the HOPE study. The study randomized 2,480 women aged >or=55 years with vascular disease or diabetes and at least one additional CV risk factor and without heart failure or a known low LV ejection fraction to ramipril (10 mg/day) or placebo. The primary outcome was the composite of myocardial infarction, stroke or CV death. Average follow-up was 4.5 years.. Treatment with ramipril resulted in reduced primary end point rates (11.3% vs. 14.9% in the placebo arm; relative risk [RR] 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62 to 0.96; p = 0.019), fewer strokes (3.1% vs. 4.8%; RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.96; p = 0.029) and fewer CV deaths (4.2% vs. 6.9%; RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.88; p = 0.0068). There were trends toward reduced rates of myocardial infarction, heart failure and all-cause death. The beneficial effect of ramipril was similar in women and men.. Treatment with ramipril reduces the CV risk in high-risk women without heart failure and with preserved LV systolic function.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

To determine the effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril on the secondary prevention of stroke.. Randomised controlled trial with 2x2 factorial design.. 267 hospitals in 19 countries.. 9297 patients with vascular disease or diabetes plus an additional risk factor, followed for 4.5 years as part of the HOPE study.. Stroke (confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging when available), transient ischaemic attack, and cognitive function. Blood pressure was recorded at entry to the study, after 2 years, and at the end of the study.. Reduction in blood pressure was modest (3.8 mm Hg systolic and 2.8 mm Hg diastolic). The relative risk of any stroke was reduced by 32% (156 v 226) in the ramipril group compared with the placebo group, and the relative risk of fatal stroke was reduced by 61% (17 v 44). Benefits were consistent across baseline blood pressures, drugs used, and subgroups defined by the presence or absence of previous stroke, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Significantly fewer patients on ramipril had cognitive or functional impairment.. Ramipril reduces the incidence of stroke in patients at high risk, despite a modest reduction in blood pressure.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Cognition; Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Stroke

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events. Indeed, people with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to die from cardiovascular causes than individuals without diabetes. Despite evidence to suggest that the burden of cardiovascular disease may be decreasing in Western populations, this trend has not been repeated in diabetic populations. Diabetes is also the most common cause of new-onset end-stage renal disease, blindness and amputations. The growing incidence of diabetes throughout the world, particularly in developing nations, suggests that diabetes-related cardiovascular disease and other chronic cardiovascular diseases will constitute a serious global threat to health and well-being. The HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) study was designed to determine if the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ramipril, prevents cardiovascular events in high risk patients. As people with diabetes have a high risk of such events, this group was specified for inclusion and analysis in the HOPE study. The HOPE study was designed to include up to 4,000 people with diabetes and was designed with high power to detect an 18% risk reduction in the diabetic sub group alone. A total of 3,577 individuals with diabetes were randomised to receive either 10 mg of ramipril or placebo. After a period of 4.5 years of follow-up, the group of patients receiving ramipril had a statistically and clinically significant risk reduction of 25% in the primary outcome of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or cardiovascular (CV) death. This comprises a 37% risk reduction in CV death, a 22% risk reduction in MI, a 33% reduction in stroke and a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality. The MICRO-HOPE (Microalbuminuria, Cardiovascular, and Renal Outcomes) sub study assessed the effect of ramipril on diabetic nephropathy. This was detected by a centrally measured urine albumin:creatinine ratio and confirmed by timed urine collection. Ramipril significantly reduced the risk of overt nephropathy by 22% (P = 0.045), and overt nephropathy, laser therapy or dialysis by 15% (P = 0.05). ACE inhibition with ramipril represents a new macrovascular and microvascular preventive therapy for people with diabetes.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Diabetic Angiopathies; Diabetic Nephropathies; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors improve the outcome among patients with left ventricular dysfunction, whether or not they have heart failure. We assessed the role of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, ramipril, in patients who were at high risk for cardiovascular events but who did not have left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure.. A total of 9297 high-risk patients (55 years of age or older) who had evidence of vascular disease or diabetes plus one other cardiovascular risk factor and who were not known to have a low ejection fraction or heart failure were randomly assigned to receive ramipril (10 mg once per day orally) or matching placebo for a mean of five years. The primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes. The trial was a two-by-two factorial study evaluating both ramipril and vitamin E. The effects of vitamin E are reported in a companion paper.. A total of 651 patients who were assigned to receive ramipril (14.0 percent) reached the primary end point, as compared with 826 patients who were assigned to receive placebo (17.8 percent) (relative risk, 0.78; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.70 to 0.86; P<0.001). Treatment with ramipril reduced the rates of death from cardiovascular causes (6.1 percent, as compared with 8.1 percent in the placebo group; relative risk, 0.74; P<0.001), myocardial infarction (9.9 percent vs. 12.3 percent; relative risk, 0.80; P<0.001), stroke (3.4 percent vs. 4.9 percent; relative risk, 0.68; P<0.001), death from any cause (10.4 percent vs. 12.2 percent; relative risk, 0.84; P=0.005), revascularization procedures (16.3 percent vs. 18.8 percent; relative risk, 0.85; P<0.001), cardiac arrest (0.8 percent vs. 1.3 percent; relative risk, 0.62; P=0.02), [corrected] heart failure (9.1 percent vs. 11.6 percent; relative risk, 0.77; P<0.001), and complications related to diabetes (6.4 percent vs. 7.6 percent; relative risk, 0.84; P=0.03).. Ramipril significantly reduces the rates of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in a broad range of high-risk patients who are not known to have a low ejection fraction or heart failure.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Prospective Studies; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke; Time Factors

Topics: Adult; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Vitamin E

In the list of named numerical neuro-ophthalmological syndromes, such as one-and-a-half syndrome and others, we report for the first time twenty-and-a-half syndrome, which is characterized by one-and-a-half syndrome with bilateral seventh and right fifth nerve palsy (1.5 + 7 + 7 + 5 = 20.5) in a patient with ischemic stroke.. A 45-year-old Asian Hindu woman presented with vomiting and imbalance of 1 day's duration. She had left-sided ataxic hemiparesis with one-and-a-half syndrome with bilateral seventh and right fifth nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging of her brain revealed acute non-hemorrhagic infarct in the right posterolateral aspect of pons and medulla, with normal brain vessels angiography. We described her disorder as twenty-and-a-half syndrome. She was put on antiplatelet therapy.. Twenty-and-a-half syndrome is reported for the first time. It is due to posterior circulation stroke; in our case, it was due to lacunar infarcts in the pons and medulla, manifesting as one-and-a-half syndrome with bilateral seventh and right fifth nerve palsy.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aspirin; Atorvastatin; Brain; Brain Ischemia; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Paresis; Physical Therapy Modalities; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Ramipril; Stroke; Syndrome

There is underutilization of appropriate medications for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).. Usual care (UC) was compared to polypill-based care with 3 versions using a validated micro-simulation model in the NHANES population with prior CVD. UC included individual prescription of up to 4 drug classes (antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors and statins). The polypills modeled were aspirin 81 mg, atenolol 50 mg, ramipril 5 mg, and either simvastatin 40 mg (Polypill I), atorvastatin 80 mg (Polypill II), or rosuvastatin 40 mg (Polypill III). Baseline medication use and adherence came from United Healthcare claims data.. When compared to UC, there were annual reductions of 130,000 to 178,000 myocardial infarctions and 54,000 to 74,000 strokes using Polypill I and II, respectively. From a health sector perspective, in incremental analysis the ICERs for Polypill I and II were $20,073/QALY and $21,818/QALY respectively; Polypill III was dominated but had a similar cost-effectiveness ratio to Polypill II when compared directly to usual care. From a societal perspective, Polypill II was cost-saving and dominated all strategies. Over a 5-year period, those taking Polypill I and II compared to UC saved approximately $12 and $6 per-patient-per-year alive, respectively. Polypill II was the preferred strategy in 98% of runs at a willingness to pay of $50,000 in the probability sensitivity analysis.. Use of a polypill has a favorable cost profile for secondary CVD prevention in the United States. Reductions in CVD-related healthcare costs outweighed medication cost increases on a per-patient-per-year basis, suggesting that a polypill would be economically advantageous to both patients and payers.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Aspirin; Atenolol; Budgets; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Combinations; Drug Costs; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Life Expectancy; Male; Medication Adherence; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Ramipril; Renin-Angiotensin System; Secondary Prevention; Stroke; United States

Topics: Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Coronary Artery Disease; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke; Telmisartan

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Antihypertensive Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Azathioprine; Child; Cyclophosphamide; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Ramipril; Stroke

To examine the impact of tissue selectivity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on mortality and morbidity in patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).. A retrospective cohort study using a Medicaid claims database was conducted. Patients hospitalized for an AMI and subsequently filling a prescription for an ACE inhibitor were followed longitudinally for the occurrence of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations and all-cause mortality. A subanalysis was also conducted to account for switching/discontinuation of ACE inhibitor therapy. Stepwise (forward conditional) Cox-proportional hazards models were used to analyze the effect of tissue selectivity on study outcomes.. The final study sample consisted of 689 AMI and the results indicated that tissue-selective ACE inhibitors had a protective effect against hospitalization due to stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.265; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.101-0.698). A similar lower rate in hospitalizations due to heart failure was observed in the group using tissue-selective ACE inhibitors; however, the results were not statistically significant (HR = 0.681; 95% CI = 0.436-1.063). A protective effect was also observed on the combined outcome of hospitalization due to any cardiovascular condition (HR = 0.712; 95% CI = 0.536-0.945). Hospitalizations due to recurrent AMI, need for coronary revascularization procedures, and mortality were not significantly different between patients using tissue-selective and non-tissue-selective ACE inhibitors. The completer subanalysis provided similar findings regarding the impact of tissue selectivity on study outcomes.. Tissue-selective ACE inhibitors may have a protective effect against hospitalization due to stroke/TIA or heart failure when compared to non-tissue-selective ACE inhibitors for patients following AMI.

Topics: Adult; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Comorbidity; Enalapril; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Lisinopril; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Myocardial Infarction; Organ Specificity; Proportional Hazards Models; Ramipril; Retrospective Studies; Secondary Prevention; Stroke; Survival Analysis

The effects of AT1 receptor blocker, telmisartan, and the ACE inhibitor, ramipril, were tested head-to head and in combination on stroke prevention in hypertensive rats and on potential neuroprotection in acute cerebral ischemia in normotensive rats.. Prevention study: Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) were subjected to high salt and randomly assigned to 4 groups: (1) untreated (NaCl, n = 24), (2) telmisartan (T; n = 27), (3) ramipril (R; n = 27) and (4) telmisartan + ramipril (T+R; n = 26). Drug doses were selected to keep blood pressure (BP) at 150 mmHg in all groups. Neurological signs and stroke incidence at 50% mortality of untreated SHR-SP were investigated. Intervention study: Normotensive Wistar rats were treated s.c. 5 days prior to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 min with reperfusion. Groups (n = 10 each): (1) sham, (2) vehicle (V; 0.9% NaCl), (3) T (0.5 mg/kg once daily), (4) R (0.01 mg/kg twice daily), (5) R (0.1 mg/kg twice daily) or (6) T (0.5 mg/kg once daily) plus R (0.01 mg/kg twice daily). Twenty-four and 48 h after MCAO, neurological outcome (NO) was determined. Forty-eight h after MCAO, infarct volume by MRI, neuronal survival, inflammation factors and neurotrophin receptor (TrkB) were analysed.. Stroke incidence was reduced, survival was prolonged and neurological outcome was improved in all treated SHR-SP with no differences between treated groups. In the acute intervention study, T and T+R, but not R alone, improved NO, reduced infarct volume, inflammation (TNFα), and induced TrkB receptor and neuronal survival in comparison to V.. T, R or T+R had similar beneficial effects on stroke incidence and NO in hypertensive rats, confirming BP reduction as determinant factor in stroke prevention. In contrast, T and T+R provided superior neuroprotection in comparison to R alone in normotensive rats with induced cerebral ischemia.

Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Male; Ramipril; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Wistar; Stroke; Telmisartan

The recently published ONTARGET trial found that telmisartan was non-inferior to ramipril in reducing CV death, MI, stroke, or heart failure in patients with vascular disease or high-risk diabetes. The cost implications of ramipril and telmisartan monotherapy use based on the ONTARGET study are reported here.. Only healthcare system costs were considered. Healthcare resource utilization was collected for each patient during the trial. The authors obtained country-specific unit costs to the different healthcare care resources consumed (i.e., hospitalizations events, procedures, non-study, and study drugs) for all enrolled patients. Purchasing power parities were used to convert country-specific costs into US dollars (US$ 2008). The total undiscounted costs of the study for the telmisartan group was $12,762 per patient and is higher than the ramipril group at $12,007 per patient, an un-discounted difference of $755 (95% confidence interval [CI], $218-$1292); The discounted costs for the telmisartan group was $11,722 compared with $11,019 for the ramipril group; a difference of $703 (95% CI, $209-$1197). The difference in costs is exclusively related to the acquisition cost of telmisartan over generic ramipril.. This analysis only considered direct healthcare system costs. Costs accrued outside the hospital were not collected. Combination therapy was excluded since it would likely be more expensive than ramipril alone, with no additional benefit and a risk of some harm.. Based on these results, it is suggested that for the ONTARGET patients, the use of telmisartan instead of ramipril increases costs by 6.3%. These findings suggest that the choice to put patients on telmisartan should be justified based on the patient?s susceptibility to specific adverse events to minimize the cost implications.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cost of Illness; Diabetes Complications; Health Services; Heart Failure; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

To assess the cross-sectional associations of the measures of glycemia and cognitive function in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.. The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) and concurrent Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) are multi-center, randomized, controlled investigations of different approaches to angiotensin receptor blockade in over 30,000 high CV risk subjects. Baseline data in both trials was used to analyze relationships between measures of glycemic control and cognition.. The univariate and multivariate relationships between diabetes status, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were assessed.. In subjects with diabetes, the mean MMSE score was 0.4 units lower than in those without diabetes (P<0.0001). In all subjects, a 1 mmol/L higher FPG value was associated with a MMSE score that was 0.06 units lower (P<0.0001). The association persisted after adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors.. Dysglycemia is a risk factor for impaired cognitive function in this broadly representative, high-risk study population. Prospective studies can more reliably discern temporal associations, including the effects of glucose lowering in this clinical group.

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Glucose; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cognition; Cognition Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Angiopathies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke; Telmisartan

Topics: Aged; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Comorbidity; Drug Interactions; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Ischemia; Ramipril; Renal Insufficiency; Risk; Stroke; Telmisartan; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Blood Pressure; Clinical Trials, Phase IV as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Hypertension; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Telmisartan; Treatment Outcome

Drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) have been shown to reduce the incidence of stroke in patients at risk and to afford neuroprotection in experimental brain ischemia. This study aimed to compare potential neuroprotective effects of systemic pretreatment with the angiotensin receptor blocker, candesartan, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor, ramipril, in normotensive Wistar rats after focal cerebral ischemia, with special emphasis on the regulation of neurotrophins.. Equipotent subcutaneous doses of candesartan and ramipril were determined via inhibition of pressor responses to intravenously injected angiotensin II (Ang II) or angiotensin I (Ang I), respectively. Accordingly, animals were treated with candesartan (0.1 mg/kg body weight, twice daily), ramipril (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg body weight, twice daily) or vehicle (0.9% saline, twice daily), respectively, 5 days prior to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with reperfusion. Severity of stroke was estimated via infarct size [magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 48 h after MCAO] and neurological outcome (24 h, 48 h after MCAO). Measurements of neurotrophins/receptors in brain tissue were performed 48 h after MCAO.. Pretreatment with candesartan and ramipril (low dose) did not reduce blood pressure during MCAO, whereas ramipril high dose did. Candesartan, but not ramipril at any dose, significantly reduced stroke volume and improved neurological outcome. Poststroke mRNA and protein of the neurotrophin receptor, TrkB, were significantly elevated in animals treated with candesartan, but not ramipril.. Systemic pretreatment with a sub-hypotensive, RAS-blocking dose of candesartan affords neuroprotection after focal ischemia, associated with increased activity of the neurotrophin BDNF/TrkB system. Ramipril at sub-hypotensive and hypotensive, RAS-blocking doses showed no significant neuroprotective effects.

Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Biphenyl Compounds; Brain Ischemia; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Disease Models, Animal; Incidence; Male; Pilot Projects; Ramipril; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptor, trkB; Renin-Angiotensin System; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Stroke; Tetrazoles

Treatment with erythropoietin and AT1 blockers is protective in experimental acute cerebral ischemia, with promising results in pilot clinical studies in human stroke. This paper examines the effects of using both agents as combination therapy in acute ischemic stroke.. We used the single carotid ligation stroke model in the gerbil. Six groups of 50 gerbils were treated either with placebo, erythropoietin (intraperitoneally, 5000 IU/kg, 2 and 48 h after stroke), olmesartan (10 mg/kg per day in drinking water started 36 h after stroke), ramipril (2.5 mg/kg per day in drinking water started 36 h after stroke), erythropoietin + olmesartan, or erythropoietin + ramipril. Long-term (1 month) Kaplan-Meyer survival curves were obtained, and survivors were submitted at day 30 to immediate (object recognition test) and spatial (Morris water maze) memory function tests.. Erythropoietin alone and olmesartan alone, but not ramipril, significantly increased survival at day 30 compared with untreated controls (38, 30 and 6% versus 12%, respectively). Combined treatment with erythropoietin and olmesartan further increased the survival rate to 56%, whereas combined therapy with erythropoietin and ramipril decreased 30-day survival to 24% (P < 0.0001, erythropoietin + olmesartan versus erythropoietin + ramipril). Untreated stroke survivors had markedly altered performances in both the object recognition test (P = 0.0007) and the Morris water maze (P < 0.0001) tests at day 30 compared with normal gerbils. In erythropoietin-treated animals, ramipril therapy had no beneficial effect whereas olmesartan fully restored normal response to the memory tests.. Post-infarct treatment with olmesartan combined with early erythropoietin therapy has a protective effect on survival, and markedly improves long-term memory dysfunction in this experimental model.

Topics: Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Therapy, Combination; Erythropoietin; Gerbillinae; Imidazoles; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Memory Disorders; Neuroprotective Agents; Ramipril; Recombinant Proteins; Stroke; Tetrazoles

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure Determination; Cardiovascular Diseases; Humans; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Placebos; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Hypertension; Indapamide; Perindopril; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Humans; Ramipril; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Indapamide; Kidney Diseases; Perindopril; Ramipril; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Losartan; Male; Middle Aged; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Stroke

The HOPE study has demonstrated that ramipril is beneficial (ie, prevents cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) for a broad range of patients without evidence of left ventricular dysfunction or heart failure who are at high risk for cardiovascular event. In this study, we report the cost implications, in both the United States and Canada, of the use of ramipril after the HOPE study.. A third-party perspective was chosen (Medicare for the United States and Ministry of Health for Canada). We calculated the costs of the management strategies of ramipril and placebo. An annual discount rate of 3% was used over the 4.5 years of follow-up. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Costs are reported in United States dollars and in Canadian dollars, respectively. The total costs per patient (including acquisition costs of ramipril) were not different between the groups in both countries (United States, $13 520 versus $13 631; Canada, $8702 versus $8588). From the distribution of cases in the bootstrap analysis, we found that 90% of cases fall either into a cost-neutral or cost-saving situation (64% in United States and 27% in Canada) or into a cost-effectiveness situation with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio <$10 000 (in respective currency) per primary event saved.. On the basis of these results, we suggest that the use of ramipril is likely to represent an efficient use of resources in both countries. These findings support the use of ramipril in populations included in the HOPE study.

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Canada; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Costs; Health Care Costs; Heart Diseases; Hospitalization; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Placebos; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stroke; Treatment Outcome; United States

Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Humans; Ramipril; Stroke

To estimate differences in direct costs attributable to avoided hospitalizations and procedures during the years of the HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) study after the cost of treatment with ramipril or alternative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy was taken into account.. A decision analytical model was developed to estimate the economic impact of reductions in hospitalizations and/or procedures both at annual increments and over the first 4 years of the HOPE study. The analysis compared the number of cardiovascular events per endpoint per year in the intervention and placebo group with hospitalization and procedural costs. Cost data were derived from the literature and inflated to the appropriate index year using the consumer price index.. For approximately 9000 patients studied, the gross estimated savings in direct costs for 297 events avoided were more than $5 million over 4 years. After the cost of treatment was deducted for both groups, the net estimated savings were $871 000 over 4 years.. The results demonstrate that the use of ramipril provides cost-effective treatment for high-risk cardiovascular patients with an ejection fraction >40%.

Topics: Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Bypass; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Support Techniques; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Indapamide; Kidney; Perindopril; Ramipril; Research Design; Stroke; Time; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Coronary Disease; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Perindopril; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research Design; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Atenolol; Atrial Fibrillation; Clinical Trials as Topic; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Losartan; Ramipril; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzimidazoles; Benzoates; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; Stroke; Telmisartan; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Humans; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Bias; Humans; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Humans; Ramipril; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Ramipril; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Humans; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Blood Pressure; Humans; Patient Selection; Ramipril; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antihypertensive Agents; Captopril; Cardiovascular Diseases; Clinical Trials as Topic; Enalapril; Heart Failure; Humans; Indoles; Isoquinolines; Myocardial Infarction; Perindopril; Prodrugs; Quinapril; Ramipril; Stroke; Stroke Volume; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Hypertension; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Stroke

Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke

Topics: Adult; Aged; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Health Education; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Ramipril; Risk Factors; Stroke; United States