Abstract
The Study on Cognition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE) assessed the effect of candesartan on cardiovascular and cognitive outcomes in elderly patients (aged 70-89 years) with mild to moderate hypertension. Patients were randomized to treatment with candesartan 8-16 mg daily (n=2477) or placebo (n=2460) and followed for 3.7 years on average. In agreement with the study protocol, other antihypertensive drugs were added if blood pressure remained ≥160 mHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic. Due to extensive add-on therapy, particularly in patients randomized to placebo, the between-treatment difference in blood pressure was only 3.2/1.6 mmHg. Nevertheless, the main analysis showed that non-fatal stroke was reduced by 28% (p=0.04) in the candesartan group compared with the control group, and there was a non-significant 11% reduction in the primary endpoint, major cardiovascular events (p=0.19). This review article presents different predefined and post hoc analyses made so far. Of particular interest are significant risk reductions with candesartan in major cardiovascular events (32%, p=0.013), cardiovascular mortality (29%, p=0.049) and total mortality (27%, p=0.018) in patients who did not receive add-on therapy after randomization, and in whom the difference in blood pressure was 4.7/2.6 mmHg. Other analyses suggest positive effects of candesartan-based treatment on cognitive function, quality of life and new-onset diabetes. In conclusion, SCOPE strongly suggests that candesartan treatment reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in old and very old patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Candesartan-based antihypertensive treatment may also have positive effects on cognitive function and quality of life.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 71-79 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Blood Pressure |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2006 |
Keywords
- Angiotensin receptor blockade
- Candesartan
- Cardiovascular events
- Cognitive function
- Elderly
- Hypertension
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine