VALIDD: Lowering Blood Pressure Improves Diastolic Dysfunction

Sue Hughes
Heartwire 2007. © 2007 Medscape
March 26, 2007 (New Orleans, LA) - Lowering blood pressure can improve diastolic dysfunction even in patients with mild hypertension, a new study has shown.
The Valsartan in Diastolic Dysfunction (VALIDD) trial, presented today at the American College of Cardiology 2007 Scientific Sessions, is the first large-scale randomized trial to assess a therapeutic intervention for improvement of diastolic function using new noninvasive Doppler technology. The study’s primary objective was to compare the effect on diastolic dysfunction of two antihypertensive regimens--one based on an inhibitor of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and one based on other medications--in patients with mild hypertension. While there was no difference between these two groups, both groups showed a substantial reduction in blood pressure that was itself associated with a significant improvement in diastolic dysfunction.
Lead investigator Dr Scott Solomon (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA) said: “Our study has shown an important result. Diastolic dysfunction is an important pathophysiology between hypertension and heart failure, affecting around half of hypertension patients. Patients with diastolic dysfunction have an increased risk of developing heart failure, but there is no targeted therapy for this condition. This study suggests that lowering blood pressure is the most important thing we can do for patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction and shows that we need to be more aggressive in this regard even in patients with only mildly elevated blood pressure."