VALUE trial

Study characteristics: - 15,245 hypertensive patients - minimum age 50 - mean BP 155/87 mm Hg - 31 countries - at least one cardiovascular risk factor - 92% previously treated with antihypertensives Treatment: - does titrated over period of 6 months - valsartan (160 mg QD max) vs amlodipine (10 mg QD max) - other agents added as needed - mean follow-up of 4.2 years Target BP - < 140/90 Results: - mean BP declined in both groups, but less with valsartan than with amlodipine* - composite endpoint of adverse cardiovascular events did not differ between groups - more myocardial infarctions in valsartan group* - trend towards more stroke in valsartan group* - less new onset diabetes in valsartan group * mostly in 1st 6 months

References

Journal Watch 24(15):124, 2004 Julius S, Kjeldsen SE, Weber M, Brunner HR, Ekman S, Hansson L, Hua T, Laragh J, McInnes GT, Mitchell L, Plat F, Schork A, Smith B, Zanchetti A; VALUE trial group. Outcomes in hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk treated with regimens based on valsartan or amlodipine: the VALUE randomised trial. Lancet. 2004 Jun 19;363(9426):2022-31. PMID: 15207952