Treatment of hypertensive and hypercholesterolaemic patients in general practice. The effect of captopril, atenolol and pravastatin combined with life style intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the effect on blood pressure and blood lipids of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (captopril), and a beta-receptor blocking agent (atenolol), given alone or in combination with a cholesterol reducing drug, the beta-hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin, in patients who were also encouraged to improve their lifestyle.


METHODS
A longitudinal study consisting of three phases. I: Lifestyle intervention alone. II: Continued lifestyle intervention combined with captopril or atenolol. III: Continued lifestyle intervention combined with the same drugs as in phase II and in addition pravastatin or placebo.


METHODS
Fifty-four general practice surgeries in Norway.


METHODS
Hypertensive patients, 210 females and 160 males, treated or untreated with antihypertensive drugs with a sitting diastolic blood pressure between 95 and 115 mmHg and a serum total cholesterol between 6.5 mmol/l (7.0 for those age 60-67 years) and 9.0 mmol/l.


RESULTS
The antihypertensive effect of captopril and atenolol was not influenced by concurrent administration of pravastatin. The effect of pravastatin was not limited by concurrent medication with captopril or atenolol. Improvement in lifestyle seemed to reduce the need for supplementary treatment with diuretics.


CONCLUSIONS
Pravastatin can be used in combination with captopril or atenolol in the treatment of hypertensive and hypercholesterolaemic patients.
Foss
O P
OP
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Graff-Iversen
S
S
Istad
H
H
Søyland
E
E
Tjeldflaat
L
L
Graving
B
B
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001262:Atenolol; D002216:Captopril; D017035:Pravastatin