Abstract

Dr. Sandhya Shukla* and Dr. G. C. Nayak

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension has been termed the silent killer; an asymptomatic chronic disorder that, if undetected and untreated, silently damages the blood vessels, heart, brain, and kidneys. In India, hypertension is emerging as a major health problem and is more prevalent in urban than in rural subjects. Hypertension is directly responsible for 54% of all stroke deaths and 27% of all coronary heart disease deaths in India. Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Telmisartan versus Ramipril in mild to moderate hypertension. Materials and Methods: This study was a hospital-based prospective, randomized, comparative, observational study conducted over a period of 9 months. For the purpose of this study, equal numbers of mild to moderate hypertensive patients were randomly allocated equally between two groups: one group on Telmisartan and the other group on Ramipril. Patients were assessed for the blood pressure (BP) reduction during follow-up period of 3-month. Results: In both Telmisartan and Ramipril groups, there was a significant reduction of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean BP (MBP) from beginning to the end of study (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in reduction of SBP and MBP during 4-12 weeks (P < 0.001) between Telmisartan and Ramipril group but no significant difference in the reduction of SBP and MBP in both drug groups was seen at the end of the study. Conclusion: Both Telmisartan and Ramipril groups were similar and comparable with regards to their SBP and DBP. In both Telmisartan and Ramipril groups, there was a significant reduction of SBP, DBP, and MBP from beginning to the end of study (P < 0.001).