[Use of antihypertensive drug therapy and risk of development of congestive heart failure].
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that the use of some antihypertensive agents may favour the development of congestive heart failure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate such a possible association in patients who had a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure.


METHODS
This was a retrospective case-control study of 81 patients who had a first hospital admission with a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure (cases) and 162 patients admitted for other hypertensive complications (controls). Previous antihypertensive drug use was registered and the possible association with congestive heart failure was evaluated.


RESULTS
The presence of congestive heart failure was not associated with the use of any antihypertensive drug class. When treatments were grouped in classic (diuretics and betablockers) or modern (calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, alphablockers or angiotensin receptor blockers), a negative association was observed with the latter group, which was observed in 48.1% of cases and 63.6% of controls (odds ratio: 0.532; 95% confidence interval, 0.310-0.913). This association was lost after adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors or previous hypertensive complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of congestive heart failure was not associated with the use of any specific antihypertensive drug class. From the present evidence, it is not possible to recommend a specific antihypertensive agent in patients at risk of developing congestive heart failure but without evidence of such disease.
Sobrino
Javier
J
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital de lEsperit Sant, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain. jsobrino@hes.scs.es
Plana
Jaume
J
Felip
Angela
A
Doménech
Mónica
M
Reth
Peter
P
Adrián
María Jesús
MJ
de la Sierra
Alejandro
A
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
Utilización de fármacos antihipertensivos y desarrollo de insuficiencia cardíaca.