Beneficial Effect of Nitrates on Isolated Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly

Objective To investigate the beneficial effect of nitrates on isolated systolic hypertension（ISH） in elderly. Methods Eighty-seven patients we re randomized to receive felodipine （5 mg/d） or felodipine combined with isorbide mononitrate （ISMN 20 mg/d） for 8 weeks. Dynamic changes in SBP, DBP were determined. Results （1）From the 2 nd week of treatment, the magnitude of reduction in SBP was greater in combination group than that by felodipine alone, which was persisted until the end of the study. However, the magnitude of reduction in DBP was less than that by felodipine alone. The greater reduction of SBP and less reduction in DBP resulted in significant decreases in pulse pressure in combination group（-26 mmHg） in relative to alone group（-7 mmHg）（P＜0.01）. Conclusion Nitrates decreased SBP in ISH and had less effect on DBP, leading to decreased in PP which was speculated beneficial to elderly.