Abstract
Background: Hypertension has been termed the silent killer; an asymptomatic chronic disorder that, if undetected and untreated, silently damages the blood vessels, heart, brain, and kidneys. In India, hypertension is emerging as a major health problem and is more prevalent in urban than in rural subjects. Hypertension is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary heart disease deaths in India.

Aims and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of telmisartan and ramipril as an antihypertensive in mild to moderate hypertension.

Materials and Methods: This study was a hospital-based prospective, randomized, comparative, observational study conducted over a period of 1-year. For the purpose of this study, equal numbers of mild to moderate hypertensive patients were randomly allocated equally between two groups: one group on telmisartan and the other group on ramipril. Patients were assessed for the blood pressure (BP) reduction during follow-up period of 6-month.

Results: In both telmisartan and ramipril groups, there was a significant reduction of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean BP (MBP) from beginning to the end of study (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in reduction of SBP and MBP during 4-12 weeks (P < 0.001) between telmisartan and ramipril group but no significant difference in the reduction of SBP and MBP in both drug groups was seen at the end of the study.

Conclusion: Both telmisartan and ramipril groups were similar and comparable with regards to their SBP and DBP. In both telmisartan and ramipril groups, there was a significant reduction of SBP, DBP, and MBP from beginning to the end of study (P < 0.001).

Key words: Hypertension; Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Angiotensin Receptors Blockers; Renin-angiotensin System