Effect of Telmisartan on Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Hypertension - Saga Telmisartan Aggressive Research (STAR)

Abstract

Saga Telmisartan Aggressive Research (STAR) is a single-arm, prospective multi-center trial to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with telmisartan in patients with hypertension. A total of 197 patients with a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 or a diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg were enrolled in this study, and were prescribed 20 to 80 mg/day of telmisartan for 6 months. In all patients, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased (159±20 to 135±12 mmHg, p<0.0001, 87±12 to 75±8 mmHg, p<0.0001, respectively). In addition, total cholesterol (TC) levels decreased from 200±40 to 188±33 mg/dl (p<0.05). In patients with TC ≥220 mg/dl, the change was more striking (249±33 to 204±31 mg/dl, p<0.0001). Even in patients receiving statins, TC levels still were decreased (216±51 to 190±31 mg/dl, p<0.02). In addition, TC levels were also decreased even in patients receiving telmisartan in exchange for other ARBs with TC ≥220 mg/d. Triglyceride (TG) levels were decreased (270±199 to 175±74 mg/dl, p<0.005) in patients with TG levels ≥150 mg/dl. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was decreased (158±68 to 138±60 mg/dl, p<0.05) in patients with FBG ≥110 mg/dl. These results suggest that telmisartan may have favorable effects on lipid and glucose metabolism, in addition to lowering blood pressure. The profound effect of telmisartan to lower cholesterol suggests a potential use in hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia.

Key words

telmisartan - hypertension - dyslipidemia - cholesterol

References

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Appendix

The following physicians in Saga Medical Association, Japan, participated in the STAR trial: Masahiro Yoshiwara, Genichiro Edakuni, Ryutaro Yamaguchi, Taizo Minami, Masanori Nishiyama, Takanobu Nii, Mansei Matsunaga, Atsushi Sakai, Naoki Kojima, Akira Takahashi, Koichiro Furukawa, Makoto Tsuruta, Shunpo Uemura.

Correspondence