Perindopril for Control of Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors: An Open-Label, Observational, Multicentre, General Practice-Based Study

Background and objectives: Hypertension, one of the major treatable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, usually occurs in association with other major risk factors. As well as providing rapid blood pressure (BP) goal attainment, antihypertensive therapy should also provide reductions in CV events and mortality in a wide range of patients. For this, higher dosages and combinations of antihypertensive agents are often required. ACE inhibitors are recommended as first-line agents for control of hypertension in patients with additional CV risk factors. The PEACH (Perindopril’s Effect At Controlling Hypertension) study was a community-based study performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of highdose perindopril in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension and additional risk factors for CV disease. Methods: This was an open-label, multicentre observational study conducted in Canadian general practice clinics. The study assessed the efficacy and tolerability of perindopril given once daily for 10 weeks uptitrated to the maximal recommended dose of perindopril as required for BP control in newly diagnosed or previously treated patients with uncontrolled mild to moderate hypertension and ≥1 additional risk factor. Patients not achieving target BP after 2 weeks of therapy were uptitrated from perindopril 4 mg to perindopril 8 mg once daily. Efficacy endpoints included reduction in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP and BP control. Tolerability assessments included adverse effects and physicians’ assessment of tolerability. The number of missed doses was also recorded. Results: Overall, 2220 patients with hypertension and ≥1 other risk factor were prescribed perindopril at 291 centres; 51.9% were male, 78.3% Caucasian, 12.8% Asian, 36.2% ≥65 years of age and 34.5% had uncontrolled BP despite previous antihypertensive treatment. Compared with previously treated patients, treatment-naive patients had fewer risk factors, and a higher proportion were Asian (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). Most patients (76%) had 1–2 risk factors. Perindopril produced significant SBP/DBP reductions at 2 and 10 weeks (−15.8/−8.0 and −21.1/−11.0 mmHg, respectively). Overall, at week 10, BP control rate was 53.6%, better than at week 2 in the overall cohort and in all subgroups. Uptitration to high-dose perindopril to achieve BP control was required in 46% of patients with one additional risk factor compared with 64% of patients with ≥4 additional risk factors. These results demo