Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial - ONTARGET

Background

Cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks, strokes and congestive heart failure) is a major global healthcare problem accounting for 40-50% of all deaths in industrialised countries and about 25% in other countries.

Trials show that several different types of drugs used for the treatment of high blood pressure, can be used to prevent heart attacks, strokes and congestive heart failure. However it is uncertain, if one type of drug is more effective than another or, if a combination of two different types of drugs, is more effective at reducing risk of cardiovascular disease events.

Aims

To determine if taking a combination of two different types of drugs used to lower BP, is more effective in preventing new or worsening CVD than either drug used alone.

Methods

Participants were randomly allocated to one of three different treatments:

  • a new BP lowering drug called telmisartan, or
  • an established drug of the ACE inhibitor class called ramipril, or
  • a combination of both

The main study endpoint is the combined cluster of myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalisation for heart failure, or CVD death. Secondary endpoints include diabetes, kidney failure, dementia, atrial fibrillation (fluttering of the heart - a cause of stroke and heart failure).

Status

Recruitment of 25,620 participants was completed in 2003, and their follow-up for an average of 4.5 years was completed in December 2007.

The results were presented at The American College of Cardiology Scientific Meeting on 31 March 2008, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 10 April 2008. Analyses are ongoing.

Institute Investigators

Project Manager

Collaboration

Funding Agencies