Dual Therapy in Hypertensive Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: The Role of Calcium Channel Blockers and ??-Blockers

Abstract

The majority of hypertensive patients require combination therapy to achieve BP goals. Guidelines recommend dual therapy in newly diagnosed patients with BP > 160/100mm Hg. Calcium channel blocker (CCB)/ACE inhibitor and beta-blocker (beta-adrenoceptor antagonists)/diuretic combinations are among regimens considered effective for BP control. ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and CCBs are recommended for use in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). Statistical modeling from INVEST (INternational VErapamil-Trandolapril STudy), suggests an association between dual and triple therapy and decreased risk of primary outcome ([PO] first occurrence of death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke) in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). This study explores the utility of dual antihypertensive therapy by reporting BP and cardiovascular outcomes for INVEST patients who predominantly received either a CCB/ACE inhibitor or a beta-blocker/ diuretic regimen. 1170 patients were selected for analysis. After 24 months of treatment, BP control (Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure VI criteria) was 82.1% and 82.6% in the verapamil sustained release (SR) + trandolapril (Ve + Tr) and atenolol + hydrochlorothiazide (At + HCTZ) groups, respectively (p = 0.86). In Ve + Tr compared to At + HCTZ patients, adjusted risk for PO (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63; 95% CI 0.37, 1.05; p = 0.07) and unadjusted risks for secondary outcomes including death (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.40, 1.25), total MI (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.35, 1.90), total stroke (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.25, 2.65) and new diabetes (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.55, 1.41) were not statistically different. This analysis shows that combination treatment with either Ve+ Tr or At +- HCTZ is effective in achieving BP control and produces similar outcomes in hypertensive patients with CAD.