Indian Journal of Pharmacology Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Pharmacological Society ISSN: 0253-7613 EISSN: 1998-3751 Vol. 43, Num. 3, 2011, pp. 360-361

Indian Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 43, No. 3, May-June, 2011, pp. 360-361

Letter to the Editor

Authors' reply

Pramod B Akat, Tushar R Bapat, Mangala B Murthy, Vitthal B Karande, Shreyas R Burute

Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Miraj, Maharashtra, India

Correspondence Address: Pramod B Akat, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Miraj, Maharashtra, India, dr_akat@rediffmail.com

Code Number: ph11096

Sir,

We thank for the valuable comments ^[1] on our paper. ^[2] Our reply to the queries is as follows:

1. Sample size in our study was calculated by using the formula ^[3] for sample size estimation for quantitative data and was found adequate. The results of previous study were used for calculations. The power of our study was 90% at 1% level of significance.
2. We regret the typing error. Please read the range as mild hypertension systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP): 140-159/90-99 mmHg. Moderate hypertension SBP/DBP: 160-179/100-109 mmHg.
3. Suggestion at 3 is well taken for future studies.
4. It is clear from the background of our study that the study was planned to focus on advantages of telmisartan over enalapril. Taking this into consideration, the diastolic BP was taken as primary end point and systolic BP was measured simultaneously; therefore, its relevance in the study remains clear. There is strong evidence that systolic BP is a better predictor of cardiovascular events in persons older than 50 years, but diastolic BP is still considered as a better predictor of cardiovascular events than systolic BP ^[4] in young hypertensives. Therefore, to evaluate the efficacy, telmisartan was compared with enalapril, taking diastolic BP as the primary end point.

References

1.	Saha L. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan and enalapril in patients of mild to moderate essential hypertension. Indian J Pharmacol 2011;43:360.  Back to cited text no. 1
2.	Akat PB, Bapat TR, Murthy MB, Karande VB, Burute SR. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan and enalapril in patients of mild to moderate essential hypertension. Indian J Pharmacol 2010;42:153-6.  Back to cited text no. 2  [PUBMED]
3.	Kadam P, Bhalerao S. Sample size calculation. Int J Ayurveda Res 2010;1:55-7.  Back to cited text no. 3  [PUBMED]
4.	Perry HM Jr, Miller JP, Baty JD, Carmody SE, Sambhi MP. Pretreatment blood pressure as a predictor of 21-year mortality. Am J Hypertens 2000;13:724-33.  Back to cited text no. 4  [PUBMED]

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