ความปลอดภัยและประสิทธิผลของการใช้ยาลดความดันโลหิตในกลุ่ม Long Acting Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers

Abstract

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of long acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in hypertensive outpatients at Phramongkutklao hospital and to examine factors associated with peripheral edema formation. Study design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Patients and methods: Two hundred and twenty outpatients receiving unchanged dosage regimens of long acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers for at least 4 weeks were studied and recruited by using a convenient sampling method. The study was conducted between May 16 and June 30 2005. Data were collected by interviewing the patients and reviewing OPD cards. Results:Overall dverse events were reported in 17.8% of the patients. Peripheral edema was the most common adverse events (14.1%). Sixty four point five percent of the patients with peripheral edema were treated by giving a diuretics therapy raising of the patient’s leg while sleeping dose reduction and discontinuation of the calcium channel  blockers. The main factor associated with peripheral edema formation tendency is age (p= 0.065). Sixty four point one percent of the patients achieved their BP goal according to JNC VII. Conclusions: Adverse events were reported by 17.8% of 220 patients. Most adverse events were peripheral edema (swelling of the leg and ankle). Thirty  five point nine percent of the subjects could not achieve their BP goal. This may result from dose insufficiency noncompliance and lack of knowledge about an appropriate lifestyle or problems from adverse events. Thus ealthcare professionals should be aware of these findings in which the ultimate goal of therapy is to control the blood pressure to achieve the target in order to prevent complications in patients and to improve the patient quality  of life.