Affiliation:
1. Hypertension Excellence Centre, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina,Greece
2. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina,Greece
Abstract
Objective:
Non-adherence to antihypertensive agents leads to reduced blood pressure
(BP) control. Data supporting the correlation of adherence with arterial stiffness (AS) are few. Furthermore,
the causal relationship between AS and cognitive dysfunction (CO/DY) has not been
clearly established. It is suggested that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) exhibit the lowest
discontinuation rate among antihypertensive drugs.
Design and Methods:
We followed up with patients receiving monotherapy with irbesartan.
CO/DY was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MΜSE) and other tests.
Results:
Patients [n=77; mean age: 56±11 years; 39 men (50.6%)] were followed-up for 16.1±10.9
months. At the end of follow up, significant reductions were observed in mean peripheral systolic
BP (135±117 vs 153±11 mmHg; p<0.005), mean peripheral diastolic BP (85±11 vs 95±10 mmHg;
p<0.005), mean central systolic BP (130±11 vs 142±12 mmHg; p<0.005) as well as in mean central
diastolic BP (85±8 vs 95±97 mmHg; p<0.005).
:
AS indices [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index] also improved significantly:
7.7±1.4 vs 8.2±1.4 m/sec (p<0.005), and 29.1±8.3 vs 32.3±9.1 (p<0.005), respectively.
:
At the end of the study, a significant improvement was observed in the MMSE test (29.7±0.7 vs.
29.2±0.9; p<0.02), as well as a significant reduction in 24h urine albumin (94±82 vs. 204±112
mg/24h, p<0.005).
:
The level of adherence was high in 60/77 (77.9%), medium in 9/77 (11.6%) and low in 8/77
(10.38%) patients.
Conclusions:
Hypertensive patients receiving mono-therapy with an ARB showed reduced AS, cognitive
improvement, significant reductions in BP (peripheral and central) and decreased 24h urinary
albumin excretion.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine,Pharmacology