ATC kod: C09CA01, C09DA01
Kliniska studier har visat att den blodtryckssänkande effekten av losartan är likvärdig hos män och kvinnor. Hos patienter med högt blodtryck och vänstersidig hjärtkammarförtjockning noterades minskad risk av det sammansatta effektmåttet kardiovaskulär mortalitet, stroke och hjärtinfarkt enbart hos kvinnor.
Biverkningsprofilen av losartan är likartad mellan könen.
In a pharmacokinetic study, single oral and intravenous doses of losartan produced plasma concentrations of losartan that were two-fold higher in hypertensive women than in hypertensive men, due to reduced systemic clearance in women. However, plasma concentrations of the active metabolite of losartan, E 3174 (ten times more effective than the parent compound), were similar in men and women [1-4].
Even though some pharmacokinetic sex differences of losartan have been described, the clinical relevance of these has not been shown and therefore no dosage adjustment based on patient’s sex has been considered necessary [3].
A review evaluating clinical experience with losartan from worldwide, double-blind, controlled studies, confirm that the antihypertensive effect of losartan is similar in women and men [1, 3-6].
The large randomized, triple-blind LIFE study (4230 men, 4963 women), conducted by the pharmaceutical company, compared losartan with atenolol in patients, aged 55-80 years, with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy [7, 8]. Blood pressure lowering effect of losartan (50 mg daily) was similar in men and women. Only women had a significant reduction in the primary composite end point (cardiovascular mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction), regardless of treatment with losartan or atenolol. When analyzing the endpoints separately, women on losartan had significant reduction in stroke and total mortality [7-9].
A prospective, randomized trial (4230 men, 4963 women) reported that women had less regression of electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy than men during losartan therapy. Regression of ECG left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with improved prognosis. These findings suggest that women may derive less prognostic benefit [10]. In the original LIFE-study [7], a change of the definition of LVH on ECG in women during the study was therefore necessary.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled RENAAL trial (956 men, 557 women) evaluated losartan 50-100 mg once daily in addition to conventional hypertensive treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced renal disease. The primary endpoint (a composite of doubling of serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease, or death) was similarly reduced in men and women (HR 0.90 vs. 0.80) [9, 11].
Reviews and meta-analysis consisting of several double-blind trials, have reported that the overall incidence of adverse clinical events in losartan-treated patients were similar in men and women [5, 6]. In the LIFE study, women had more adverse events than men, regardless of treatment with losartan or atenolol. However, serious adverse events (i.e. events causing hospitalization, prolongation of hospitalization, or death) did not differ between men and women (36.3% vs. 38.3%) [8].
Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult Janusmed Drugs and Birth Defects (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).
Fler kvinnor än män hämtade ut tabletter innehållande losartan (ATC-kod C09CA01) på recept i Sverige år 2019, totalt 173 276 kvinnor och 159 550 män. Det motsvarar 34 respektive 31 personer per tusen invånare. Andelen som hämtat ut läkemedel var högst i åldersgruppen 75 år och äldre hos båda könen. I åldersgruppen yngre än 70 år var tabletter innehållande losartan i genomsnitt 1,3 gånger vanligare hos män medan i åldersgruppen 70 år och äldre var det i genomsnitt 1,1 gånger vanligare hos kvinnor [12].
Nästan lika många män och kvinnor hämtade ut tabletter innehållande kombination av losartan och diuretika (ATC-kod C09DA01) på recept i Sverige år 2019, totalt 66 062 män och 63 748 kvinnor. Det motsvarar 13 respektive 13 personer per tusen invånare. Andelen som hämtat ut läkemedel var högst i åldersgruppen 70–84 år hos båda könen. I åldersgruppen yngre än 75 år var tabletter innehållande kombination av losartan och diuretika i genomsnitt 1,6 gånger vanligare hos män och i åldersgruppen 75 år och äldre i genomsnitt 1,1 gånger vanligare hos kvinnor [12].
Uppdaterat: 2020-09-04
Litteratursökningsdatum: 2019-10-10
Faktagranskat av: Mia von Euler, Carl-Olav Stiller, Diana Rydberg
Godkänt av: Karin Schenck-Gustafsson