Paucity of Published Data and Protocols for Hypoglycemia Management in Long-term Care.

Older people with diabetes are at high risk for hypoglycemia. Implementing a hypoglycemia treatment protocol in long-term care (LTC) settings may positively affect patient-related outcomes and health care resource utilization and costs. Anecdotal experience indicates little has been studied and published regarding this clinical practice.

Efficacy of olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide fixed-dose combination therapy in patients aged 65 years and older with stage 1 and 2 hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension.

Background: The incidence of hypertension, particularly isolated systolic hypertension, increases with increasing age, as does the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease. A combination antihypertensive therapy regimen may be required to reach recommended BP goals in older patients.

Objectives: This study set out to report blood pressure (BP) data in elderly patients across the subgroups of stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension (prespecified subgroup) and isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) [post hoc].

Efficacy/safety of olmesartan medoxomil versus losartan potassium in naïve versus previously treated subjects with hypertension.

Introduction: A predefined exploratory analysis of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, forced-titration study of olmesartan medoxomil (OM) versus losartan potassium (LOS) in subjects with hypertension not previously or previously treated with antihypertensive medication is reported.

Methods: The study included a 3-4-week placebo run-in and an 8-week active treatment period: OM (weeks 1-4, OM 20 mg; weeks 5-8, OM 40 mg); placebo + OM (weeks 1-2, placebo; weeks 3-4, OM 20 mg; weeks 5-8, OM 40 mg); and LOS (weeks 1-4, LOS 50 mg; weeks 5-8, LOS 100 mg). Analyses focused on comparison of OM and placebo + OM combined versus LOS.

Efficacy/safety of olmesartan medoxomil versus losartan potassium in patients by stage 1 or 2 hypertension.

An exploratory subgroup analysis of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, forced-titration study comparing the efficacy and safety of once-daily olmesartan medoxomil (OM) and losartan potassium (LOS) in patients with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension is reported. After a 3- to 4-week placebo run-in period, eligible patients received once-daily OM (weeks 1-4, 20 mg; weeks 5-8, 40 mg), placebo plus OM (weeks 1-2, placebo; weeks 3-4, OM 20 mg; weeks 5-8, OM 40 mg), or LOS (weeks 1-4, 50 mg; weeks 5-8, 100 mg). A subset of patients underwent ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring.

A randomized, double-blind, forced-titration study to compare olmesartan medoxomil versus losartan potassium in patients with stage 1 and 2 hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of once-daily olmesartan medoxomil (OM) and losartan potassium (LOS) in patients with hypertension.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, active-comparator, forced-titration study. After a 3-week placebo run-in, 941 patients were randomized in an 8:1:9 ratio to once-daily treatment with OM (20 mg for 4 weeks, then OM 40 mg for 4 weeks [n = 420]), placebo plus OM (placebo for 2 weeks, then OM 20 mg for 2 weeks and OM 40 mg for 4 weeks [n = 52]), or LOS (50 mg for 4 weeks, then LOS 100 mg for 4 weeks [n = 469]).

Combination therapy with olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide: secondary analysis of the proportion of patients achieving recommended blood pressure goals from a randomized, double-blind, factorial study.

Background: The combination of olmesartan medoxomil and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) [olmesartan medoxomil/HCTZ] has previously been shown to produce significantly greater SBP/DBP reductions than monotherapy with either agent alone in a randomized, double-blind, factorial study in patients with stage 2 hypertension. Compared with the evaluation of a single mean BP reduction in a patient population, determining the efficacy of an antihypertensive agent in achieving multiple BP targets provides additional information about the range of BP reductions attainable within this study population.

Objective: To conduct a secondary analysis of this study to evaluate the proportion of patients achieving combined SBP/DBP targets recommended in current hypertension treatment guidelines as well as individual SBP and DBP targets.

Comparison of olmesartan medoxomil versus amlodipine besylate on regression of ventricular and vascular hypertrophy.

Reversal of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an important goal of antihypertensive therapy. This phase 3b study compared the ability of the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil with the calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate to induce regression of LV hypertrophy and vascular hypertrophy after achieving blood pressure (BP) goal. After a washout phase, 102 patients with hypertension and LV hypertrophy were randomized to olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg/day, up titrated to 40 mg/day, or amlodipine 5 mg/day, up titrated to 10 mg/day, for up to 4 weeks until a BP goal of <140/90 mm Hg (<130/85 mm Hg for diabetes) was achieved (hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/day and terazosin 1 to 5 mg/day 2 times/day could be added if needed).

Results of an olmesartan medoxomil-based treatment regimen in hypertensive patients.

The efficacy and safety of an olmesartan medoxomil (OM)-based treatment algorithm was tested in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled titration study in 276 patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension. After placebo run-in, patients were randomized to placebo (12 weeks) or OM 20 mg/d (weeks 1-3). OM was up-titrated to 40 mg/d (weeks 4-6), then OM/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 40/12.

Hormonal interventions for menstrual migraines.

Menstrual migraines are a treatment challenge for both the migraineur and the health care professional. Although some women with menstrual migraines may respond to acute and preventive therapies for nonmenstrual migraines, others continue to suffer from refractory menstrual migraines. These women may respond to hormonal interventions, which may reduce the frequency of menstrual migraines, thereby lessening the need for abortive migraine therapies, decreasing migraine-related disability, and improving quality of life.