Comparative Study of the Effects of Telmisartan and Nebivolol

Τhe effectiveness of newer angiotensin-II receptor blockers and cardioselective beta-adrenergic blockers in treatment of arterial hypertension and in improvement of arterial stiffness has been established in previous studies among the hypertensive population. The present study is a comparison of the performance of two drugs, telmisartan and nebivolol, in 24h ambulatory blood pressure values and in the degree of arterial stiffness of patients with stage I arterial hypertension. Measurements will be carried out with the use of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement devices and the method of pulse-wave velocity analysis. The effects of telmisartan and nebivolol are going to be compared for a total time period of 12 months. The aim of this project is to determine whether the expected decrease in arterial stiffness of subjects with stage I arterial hypertension can be attributed to the blood pressure fall solely, or to other factors as well. These factors are possibly dependent on the action of these drugs on the renin-angiotensin II-aldosterone system (RAAS) or on peripheral vasodilatory actions. The present study is going to be the first comparative test of the anti-hypertensive effects of the two pharmaceutical substances in 12 months' time, and of the elimination of total cardiovascular risk in terms of primary prevention of cardiovascular attacks.