Nifedipine OROS in Chinese patients with hypertension--results of a post-marketing surveillance study in Taiwan.

Aims: This post-marketing surveillance study assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the treatment with nifedipine OROS in hypertensive patients in Taiwan.

Results: A total of 2044 patients were included in 204 outpatient clinics. Patients received 30 mg or 60 mg of nifedipine OROS. Mean treatment duration was 15.8 weeks. At endpoint, 91.4% of patients were receiving 30 mg nifedipine OROS. Mean blood pressure reduction was 20.6/10.3 mmHg; 46.1% of patients had a systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg and 66.8% had a diastolic blood pressure <90 mmHg. Total blood pressure control was achieved in 41.2% of all patients. Beta-blockers were the most commonly used (24.0%) concomitant antihypertensive therapy. A total of 2.3% of patients experienced adverse events. Subjective physicians' assessments of efficacy, tolerability, and patient acceptance of nifedipine OROS treatment had ratings of "very good" and "good" in 82.3% (efficacy), 87.5 (tolerability) and 88.1% (patient acceptance) of the study cohort.

Conclusions: Nifedipine OROS proved to be effective and well tolerated for the treatment of hypertension in 2044 Chinese patients. The results confirm the findings and experience of previously performed controlled clinical studies.