Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg in Elderly Patients With Essential Hypertension When Given With a Light Meal in a 8 Week Placebo-controlled Study

Change in Mean Sitting Diastolic Blood Pressure (msDBP) From Baseline to End of Study (Week 8)

Time frame: Baseline to end of study (Week 8)

Percentage of Patients Achieving Systolic Blood Pressure Response

Patients achieving a systolic blood pressure response had to have a msSBP \< 140 mmHg at the end of the study and/or a ≥ 20 mmHg reduction in msSBP from baseline to the end of the study.

Time frame: Baseline to end of study (Week 8)

Change in Mean 24 Hour Ambulatory Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure From Baseline to End of Study

Two 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) evaluations were performed, one at baseline and one at the end of the study. For each evaluation, the ABPM device was attached to the non-dominant arm of the patient.

Time frame: Baseline to end of study (Week 8)

Change in the Smoothness Index (SI) of the Ambulatory Systolic Blood Pressure From Baseline to End of Study (Week 8)

Smoothness index (SI) is a measure of consistency of the BP reduction over 24 hours. The SI was obtained by first calculating the mean blood pressure value at each hour of the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring period, both before and during treatment. Similarly, the change from baseline in blood pressure was calculated at each hour. The average hourly change from baseline (δh) and standard deviation (std δh) of the hourly changes were computed, and the SI was derived: SI = δh/std δh. A negative change score indicates improvement.

Time frame: Baseline to end of study (Week 8)

Change in Morning Surge of Ambulatory Systolic Blood Pressure From Baseline to End of Study (Week 8)