Vol 6, No 2 (2002)
Original paper
Published online: 2002-04-25
Amlodipine and Verapamil - the Impact on the Presence of Adverse Events and Well-Being of Patients with Essential Arterial Hypertension
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2002;6(2):83-90.
Abstract
Background The purpose of the study was to compare the presence of adverse events in patients with essential arterial hypertension treated with amlodipine and verapamil and to assess the effect of these drugs on the general well-being.
Material and methods The study population consisted of 3027 patients with essential arterial hypertension ranging in age from 19 to 92 years. Amlodipine was given to 1519 patients (mean age 58,2 ± 11,0 years), whereas verapamil to 1508 patients (mean age 60,9 ± 11,3 years). The mean duration of hypotensive therapy in both groups was 12 months. Data on the type and dose of the drug and duration of therapy were collected from each patient. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements were performed in standard conditions. Information on adverse events of the treatment within the previous month was obtained from the Health Status Index. Furthermore the patients graded their general well-being within the previous month on a 6-point scale.
Results Patients treated with amlodipine had slightly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate than those receiving verapamil. Patients on amlodipine suffered most frequently from headaches (28,7%), dizziness (22,3%), palpitations (21,2%) and ankle edema (21,0%). The range of adverse events in patients on verapamil was as follows: constipation (45,7%), headaches (45,1%), dizziness (38,7%), palpitations (30,9%) and ankle edema (26,3%). Patients on amlodipine reported significantly less unwanted effects, both on low and high doses than patients on verapamil (p < 0,001). Patients receiving longacting verapamil preparations once a day (120 and 240 mg) had less undesired effects than those receiving verapamil in smaller doses but several times a day (p < 0,05). Monotherapy with amlodipine in all age groups, both in men and women, was associated with improved well-being than monotherapy with verapamil (p < 0,01). Improved well-being in patients both on amlodipine and verapamil was negatively correlated with the number of adverse events, r = -0,46, p < 0,001 and r = -0,58, p < 0,001, respectively.
Conclusions Patients with arterial hypertension receiving amlodipine in monotherapy for a year reported significantly less adverse events than patients receiving verapamil. The effect was not dependent on the drug dose, sex and age. Patients on amlodipine had improved well-being after a year’s monotherapy than patients on verapamil. The effect did not depend on the drug dose, sex and age, either.
Material and methods The study population consisted of 3027 patients with essential arterial hypertension ranging in age from 19 to 92 years. Amlodipine was given to 1519 patients (mean age 58,2 ± 11,0 years), whereas verapamil to 1508 patients (mean age 60,9 ± 11,3 years). The mean duration of hypotensive therapy in both groups was 12 months. Data on the type and dose of the drug and duration of therapy were collected from each patient. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements were performed in standard conditions. Information on adverse events of the treatment within the previous month was obtained from the Health Status Index. Furthermore the patients graded their general well-being within the previous month on a 6-point scale.
Results Patients treated with amlodipine had slightly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate than those receiving verapamil. Patients on amlodipine suffered most frequently from headaches (28,7%), dizziness (22,3%), palpitations (21,2%) and ankle edema (21,0%). The range of adverse events in patients on verapamil was as follows: constipation (45,7%), headaches (45,1%), dizziness (38,7%), palpitations (30,9%) and ankle edema (26,3%). Patients on amlodipine reported significantly less unwanted effects, both on low and high doses than patients on verapamil (p < 0,001). Patients receiving longacting verapamil preparations once a day (120 and 240 mg) had less undesired effects than those receiving verapamil in smaller doses but several times a day (p < 0,05). Monotherapy with amlodipine in all age groups, both in men and women, was associated with improved well-being than monotherapy with verapamil (p < 0,01). Improved well-being in patients both on amlodipine and verapamil was negatively correlated with the number of adverse events, r = -0,46, p < 0,001 and r = -0,58, p < 0,001, respectively.
Conclusions Patients with arterial hypertension receiving amlodipine in monotherapy for a year reported significantly less adverse events than patients receiving verapamil. The effect was not dependent on the drug dose, sex and age. Patients on amlodipine had improved well-being after a year’s monotherapy than patients on verapamil. The effect did not depend on the drug dose, sex and age, either.
Keywords: amlodipineverapamiladverse eventswell-being