A modified isometric test to evaluate blood pressure control with once-daily slow-release verapamil.
Blood pressure at rest is not predictive of round-the-clock values. Blood pressure should therefore be measured during effort to evaluate hypertension and its response to treatment. The effect of sustained-release verapamil (240 mg taken once a day) on blood pressure at rest and during isometric effort was therefore investigated. Overall, verapamil reduced blood pressure significantly in 41 of 45 hypertensive patients: the mean systolic blood pressure at rest (+/- SD) fell from 151 +/- 35 mmHg to 137 +/- 13 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the diastolic blood pressure from 97 +/- 21 mmHg to 83 +/- 7 mmHg (P < 0.001), while the systolic blood pressure during isometric effort fell from 186 +/- 23 mmHg to 156 +/- 13 mmHg (P < 0.001) and the diastolic blood pressure from 118 +/- 14 mmHg to 95 +/- 8 mmHg (P < 0.001). The simple, inexpensive handgrip method described is cost-effective and strongly recommended as an integral part of the evaluation of hypertensive patients. The combination of a drug to which compliance is good and a simple method of blood pressure evaluation should result in improved effectiveness of treatment in the long term.
Effort Test and Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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A
Cantor
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H
Gilutz
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T
Meyer
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016552:Ergometry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D014700:Verapamil