Efficacy and Safety of Amlodipine Besylate Tablet for Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension in China: A Systematic Review

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of Amlodipine Besylate tablet for essential hypertension. Methods We searched MEDLINE （1999 to 2010.8）, EMCC（1999 to 2010.8）, CNKI（1999 to 2010.8）, VIP（1999 to 2010.8） and CBM（1999 to 2010.8）. Randomized controlled trials（RCT） about Amlodipine Besylate tablet for essential hypertension will be included. The quality of each trial was assessed according to the Cochrane reviewers handbook 4.2.8 statistical software（RevMan 4.2.8） provided by the Cochrane colaboration was applied. Results 81 related articles were identified, but only 5 with patients who were eligible and were included in the systematic review. All articles were of low quality. Meta-analyses showed that Amlodipine Besylate tablet compared with Nifedipine for average SBP, WMD= -3.99, 95%CI -6.67~-1.31, P=0.004; for average DBP, WMD=-3.94, 95%CI -5.72~-2.17, P<0.000 1; for total effective rate, WMD=1.77, 95%CI 0.79~3.97, P=0.16; for total adverse events, WMD=0.37, 95%CI 0.19~0.73, P=0.004. Conclusion Amlodipine Besylate tablet may decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, Amlodipine Besylate tablet has fewer adverse effects and less economy load. Due to a high risk of language bias, selection bias and detection bias in the included studies, the evidence is insufficient to determine the effect of Amlodipine Besylate tablet. Further largescale trials are required to define the role of Amlodipine Besylate tablet in the treatment of essential hypertension.