Introduction: Hypertension (HT) represents the most common cardiovascular risk factor amongst the cluster group of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). Clinically, HT might be defined as that level of Blood Pressure (BP) at which the institution of therapy reduces the BP-related morbidity and mortality. Azilsartan (AZL) is a relatively new Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) available for the treatment of any stage of HT. Aim: To compare the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of AZL 40-80 mg once daily versus telmisartan 40-80 mg once daily in patients of stage-I HT. Methods: A prospective, open, randomized parallel group comparative study of AZL versus telmisartan was done in patients of stage-I HT. The study included 80 patients, 40 in each group (group I and group II) coming to the department of Medicine, Rajindra Hospital attached to Government Medical College, Patiala. The study was conducted over 8 weeks. Group I, patients received Azilsartan 40-80 mg per day in divided doses and group II, patients received telmisartan 40-80 mg per day in divided doses according to severity of hypertension. The therapeutic efficacy of drugs was evaluated by monitoring BP. Adverse drug reactions were monitored in patients. The daily cost for each medication was noted and total cost of drugs taken over 8 weeks was calculated. Effectiveness of the drugs was calculated in terms of mm Hg fall in mean BP. All the observations thus made were statistically analyzed using appropriate tests. Results: Patients receiving AZL 40mg and telmisartan 40mg showed a significant fall (p<0.05) in systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) at 4 weeks and 8 weeks, when compared to baseline. The difference in SBP and DBP between Group I (AZL) and II (Telmisartan) was statistically significant at 4 weeks (p<0.05) and was highly significant at 8 weeks (p<0.001). Adverse effects such as nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, gastroenteritis, headache, dizziness, and fatigue were reported with both drugs. Conclusions: Reduction of BP with AZL was more as compared to telmisartan at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Safety and tolerability was similar in both groups.
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