Effectiveness of Telmisartan on Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients in India: A Real-World Retrospective Study from Electronic Medical Records

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of telmisartan has been reported in Indian clinical trials; however, real-world data are limited. We aimed to provide real-world evidence regarding the effectiveness of telmisartan as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs (AHDs) in Indian patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Electronic medical record data of adult patients diagnosed with essential hypertension (≥ 140/90 mmHg) and who were prescribed telmisartan as mono- or add-on therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified according to the number of AHD classes prescribed on initiating telmisartan. Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) after a month of treatment and the proportion of patients who achieved treatment goals according to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology/European Society of Hypertension guidelines were evaluated. RESULTS: A majority (90.6%) of the 1304 patients included in the study were on telmisartan monotherapy or telmisartan + 1 AHD. The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) change in the telmisartan monotherapy group was SBP (-13.3 [-14.6, -12.0] mmHg) and DBP (-7.2 [-7.9, -6.5] mmHg), and the mean (95% CI) change in the telmisartan + 1 AHD group was SBP (-10.8 [-13.1, -8.5] mmHg) and DBP (-6.5 [-7.7, -5.3] mmHg) (P < 0.001 for all). SBP and DBP goals were achieved by 35.9% and 47.3% of patients on telmisartan monotherapy and by 35.9% and 46.8% of patients on telmisartan + 1 AHD. Among patients with comorbid diabetes, the mean (95% CI) change in the telmisartan monotherapy group was SBP (-13.3 [-15.0, -11.6] mmHg) and DBP (-7.3 [-8.2, -6.5] mmHg), and the mean (95% CI) change in the telmisartan + 1 AHD group was SBP (-13.0 [-16.5, -9.5] mmHg) and DBP (-6.9 [-8.7, -5.1] mmHg) (P < 0.001 for all). SBP and DBP goals were achieved by 31.7% and 39.7% of patients on telmisartan monotherapy and by 31.9% and 41.8% of patients on telmisartan + 1 AHD. CONCLUSION: Telmisartan may be a good candidate for blood pressure control in Indian patients with essential hypertension and comorbidities.