Telmisartan/Hydrochlorothiazide Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Hypertension

A pooled analysis of seven randomized trials has shown that telmisartan combined with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is effective and well tolerated in both older (≥65 years) and younger patients with hypertension. The study included 3,654 patients treated for an average of eight weeks. In older patients, the high-dose combination (telmisartan 80 mg + HCTZ 25 mg) achieved mean blood pressure reductions of –30.1/–19.0 mm Hg, compared with –21.7/–13.0 mm Hg for telmisartan 80 mg monotherapy. Blood pressure reductions were broadly consistent across age groups, and the safety profile was comparable to placebo. Findings support the telmisartan/HCTZ combination, particularly at higher doses, as a valuable option for blood pressure control in elderly patients.