Moxonidine in the treatment of overweight and obese patients with the metabolic syndrome: a postmarketing surveillance study.

Moxonidine is a centrally active imidazoline receptor agonist that effectively lowers blood pressure and has been shown to have beneficial effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. We assessed the efficacy of moxonidine in a postmarketing surveillance study (CAMUS) conducted in 772 practices in Germany, documenting 4005 patients with hypertension, who were overweight and/or suffered from metabolic syndrome. Patients were treated with moxonidine (Cynt) for the first time following the baseline visit for 8 weeks. Mean blood pressure decreased from 168/97 to 141/83 mmHg for all patients and from 168/96 to 141/83 mmHg for patients with metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure reduction was particularly pronounced in patients with severe hypertension at baseline. The response rate (DBP< or =90 mmHg or reduction > or =10 mmHg) of antihypertensive treatment with moxonidine was 94.0% for all patients and 93.8% for patients with metabolic syndrome. The recommended targets for antihypertensive treatment of the German Diabetes Society/German Hypertension Society were reached by 30.5% of nondiabetics (goal: <140/90 mmHg) and by 3.6% of diabetics (goal: <130/80 mmHg) observed. After 8 weeks of treatment, patients achieved a mean weight loss of 1.4 kg, which was particularly pronounced in obese patients. The rate of patients receiving antihypertensive combination therapy was 81.1% for those with metabolic syndrome, and 63.3% for all other patients. Patients with metabolic syndrome were preferentially treated with ACE inhibitors and diuretics. We conclude that moxonidine effectively reduces blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome while simultaneously reducing body weight in obese patients.