A SHORT TERM PROSPECTIVE, INTERVENTIONAL, COMPARATIVE CLINICAL STUDY FOR EVALUATION OF RAMIPRIL VERSUS TELMISARTAN IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Aim: To comparatively evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy and tolerability of ramipril and telmisartan in stage 1 hypertensive diabetic patients. Material and Methods: This short term, prospective, randomized, interventional, comparative clinical study was conducted amongst 53 patients of stage 1 hypertension with type 2 diabetes (27 ramipril and 26 telmisartan patients), aged 30 years and above. Ramipril was administered 5 mg/day and telmisartan 40 mg/day respectively throughout the study period of 3 months. Blood pressure was measured using mercury sphygmomanometer. Paired and unpaired student t-test was applied. Results: Mean SBP was 153.2 and 154.52 mm Hg and mean DBP 87.6 and 87.57 mm Hg in ramipril and telmisartan group respectively. During follow-up the mean SBP and DBP consistently decreased. At 3 months the mean SBP was 124.72 and 123.83 mm Hg in ramipril and telmisartan group respectively. Similarly, the mean DBP at 3 months was 78.16 and 76.7 mm Hg in ramipril and telmisartan group respectively. Although the lowering of blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) by ramipril or telmisartan individually was statistically significant yet comparatively reduction of BP between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: Both regimens were equally effective and well tolerated with minimal incidence of adverse effects including cough.