A meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of candesartan in Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Candesartan in treating Chinese patients 
with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Medical databases and review articles were screened with 
prespecified criteria for randomized controlled trials that reported the effects of and adverse reactions to 
Candesartan and other antihypertensive drugs in treating of Chinese patients with mild to moderate essential 
hypertension. The quality of included studies was critically evaluated. A total of 735 articles were found and 
19 articles were finally included. Heterogeneity test: efficacy analysis (Q statistic = 4.60, p = 1.00, I2 = 0%), 
safety analysis (Q statistic = 12.19, p = 0.84, I2 = 0%). The results of Meta-analysis confessed that there were 
no significant differences either in efficacy or safety between Candesartan and other active antihypertensive 
agents. Funnel-plot displayed a symmetrical figure, indicating there was no publication bias. In an analysis 
excluding the 6 low quality trials, our results were unchanged indicating the sensitivity of the Meta-analysis 
was fine. The evidence currently available shows that Candesartan has the similar efficacy and safety 
compared with other active antihypertensive agents with mild to moderate essential hypertension.