Abstract

Background: Hypertension has emerged as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney failure affecting 20% adult population worldwide. In India, the prevalence is reported to be ranging from 10- 30.9% with an average of 25% in urban and 10% in rural inhabitants. There is considerable evidence that hypertension and dyslipidaemia are interrelated metabolically, epidemiologically and clinically.

Aims & Objective: To study the antihypertensive role of statins, apart from their lipid lowering effects. We have compared Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) either alone or in combination with statins in essential hypertension patients.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 20 hypertensive patients in Department of Pharmacology and Medicine at SGRRIM&HS, Dehradun for 1 year. Initially patients were stabilized for 4weeks by ARBs and then divided in 2 groups. Group-I: ARBs (n=10) and group-II: ARBs + Statins (n=10). Patients were followed up every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Change in systolic and diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP, DBP) was the primary efficacy variables. Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), Body Mass Index (BMI) and Lipid profile were secondary end points. Analysis was done by student T-test and P value ≤ 0.05 was significant.

Results: At 4 and 16 weeks SBP in group-I was 133.6 ± 3.7 mmHg and 124 ± 2.56 mmHg (p0.05) respectively. At 16 weeks intergroup SBP and DBP comparison was done which was not significant (p>0.05). At 4 and 16 weeks lipid profile in group-I (p>0.05), group-II (p0.05) respectively.

Conclusion: Both the groups showed significant improvement in SBP. But no significant difference was seen on intergroup comparison. Larger studies with more patients are needed to establish the role of Statins in hypertension.

Key words: Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs); Statins; Blood Pressure; Essential Hypertension