Carvedilol reduces aortic wave reflection and improves left ventricular/vascular coupling: a comparison with atenolol (CENTRAL Study).

Blood pressure (BP) characteristics, such as central aortic pressure and arterial stiffness, independently predict cardiovascular events. The effects of pharmacologically dissimilar β-blockers on these properties have not been fully elucidated. Patients with essential hypertension and without significant concomitant cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to controlled-release carvedilol, force-titrated to 80 mg (n=22), or atenolol, force-titrated to 100 mg (n=19); each was given once daily for 4 weeks.