Study outcomes
The primary endpoint of the baseline-adjusted change in E/e′ from the baseline to 48 weeks was decreased by azilsartan (the azilsartan group, least-squares mean [LSM]: − 0.8 ± 0.4, 95% CI  − 1.49 to − 0.04; the candesartan group, LSM: 0.2 ± 0.4, 95% CI  − 0.49 to 0.94; LSM difference,  − 1.0 ± 0.5, 95% CI  − 2.01 to 0.03, P = 0.057), although the difference was not statistically significant (Fig. The changes in the parameters of left ventricular diastolic function with echocardiography from baseline to 48 weeks. (The changes in E/e′ from baseline to 48 weeks stratified by the potential influential factors. The statistical analyses of absolute changes in each parameter from baseline to 48 weeks were performed using analysis of covariance adjusted for the baseline data. LSM, 95% CI and p values were calculated from the analysis of covariance model. The LSM difference (3.0 ± 0.5, 95% CI − 8.34 to 14.21) in the patients with LVEF < 50% was omitted because the 95% CI was large due to small sample size. No significant differences were exhibited in either systolic blood pressure (BP), diastolic BP or heart rate between the two groups throughout the study (Fig. The changes in systolic (