Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Effective control of elevated blood pressure (BP) has been shown to reduce this risk. Early studies of risk reduction assumed that the mechanism by which BP was lowered had little impact on the benefit obtained. Recent evidence, however, suggests that agents that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system may be particularly beneficial. The results of the recent Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a greater impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than would be anticipated from their antihypertensive effects alone. Angiotensin receptor blockers, the other major class of antihypertensive drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin system, have not been widely tested in outcomes trials, but early results suggest that they are beneficial for controlling target organ damage that is related to hypertension. Furthermore, unlike ACE inhibitors, these agents have a side-effect profile that is similar to that of placebo. Based on their efficacy in controlling hypertension and their wider health benefits, together with minimal side effects, angiotensin II (A II) receptor blockers should be considered as first-line agents for the treatment of hypertension, particularly in patients with other cardiovascular risk factors. Preliminary evidence suggests that olmesartan, an A II receptor blocker currently being evaluated for approval for clinical use, may provide antihypertensive efficacy that is superior to other members of the class.

中文翻译：

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奥美沙坦的抗高血压功效比较：与其他血管紧张素II受体拮抗剂的比较。

高血压是心血管疾病发病率和死亡率的主要危险因素。已证明有效控制血压升高（BP）可降低这种风险。降低风险的早期研究假设降低BP的机制对获得的收益影响很小。但是，最近的证据表明，抑制肾素-血管紧张素系统的药物可能特别有益。最近的心脏结局预防评估（HOPE）试验的结果表明，血管紧张素转化酶（ACE）抑制剂对心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率的影响比仅由其降压作用所预期的影响要大。血管紧张素受体阻滞剂是抑制肾素-血管紧张素系统的另一类主要的降压药物，尚未在结果试验中得到广泛测试，但早期结果表明，它们对于控制与高血压有关的靶器官损害是有益的。此外，与ACE抑制剂不同，这些药物的副作用与安慰剂相似。基于其控制高血压的功效和更广泛的健康益处以及最小的副作用，血管紧张素II（A II）受体阻滞剂应被视为治疗高血压的一线药物，尤其是在患有其他心血管危险因素的患者中。初步证据表明，目前正在评估可批准用于临床的A II受体阻滞剂奥美沙坦可能具有优于同类药物的降压功效。