Effect of amlodipine on cardiovascular events in hypertensive haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND Hypertensive haemodialysis patients may be at a high risk for cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the calcium channel blocker amlodipine reduces mortality and cardiovascular events in these high-risk patients. METHODS We evaluated the effects of amlodipine on cardiovascular events in 251 hypertensive haemodialysis patients in an investigator-designed, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. One hundred and twenty-three patients were randomly assigned to amlodipine (10 mg once daily) and 128 to placebo. The primary endpoint was mortality from any cause. The secondary endpoint was a composite variable consisting of mortality from any cause or cardiovascular event. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT00124969). RESULTS The median age of patients was 61 years (25% percentile - 75% percentile, 47-69), and the median follow-up was 19 months (8-30). Fifteen (12%) of the 123 patients assigned to amlodipine and 22 (17%) of the 128 patients assigned to placebo had a primary endpoint [hazard ratio 0.65 (95% CI 0.34-1.23); P = 0.19]. Nineteen (15%) of the 123 haemodialysis patients assigned to amlodipine and 32 (25%) of the 128 haemodialysis patients assigned to placebo reached the secondary composite endpoint [hazard ratio 0.53 (95% CI 0.31-0.93); P = 0.03]. CONCLUSION Amlodipine safely reduces systolic blood pressure and it may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive haemodialysis patients.