Queen Mary Utilization of Antihypertensive Drugs Study: side-effects of antihypertensive drugs.
OBJECTIVE
Effective prevention of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients requires good control of blood pressure. Side-effects of antihypertensive drugs affect tolerability and compliance. Accordingly, we surveyed side-effects in the hypertension outpatient clinic.


METHODS
A total of 228 patients (109 men, 119 women) were interviewed in April-May 2004 in the Queen Mary Utilization of Antihypertensive Drugs Study.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients receiving no drug (life-style modification), one, two, three and over three drugs were 3, 30, 40, 22 and 6% respectively. The proportion of patients taking calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers (BB), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, alpha-blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers were 65, 64, 33, 24, 4 and 7% respectively. Blood pressure on treatment was 144+/-21/82+/-11 mmHg. Among patients on antihypertensive drug therapy, 34% reported adverse effects: dizziness (9%), ankle swelling (7%), headache (5%), fatigue (4%), chest discomfort (3%) and cough (3%). Fewer patients on BBs reported side-effects (OR 0.46, P=0.008). The likelihood of experiencing side-effects was unrelated to sex, age, weight, BMI, years of treatment, number of drugs used, heart rate on treatment or compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
To achieve good blood pressure control, multiple drugs are used. Thiazides are underused whereas BBs are popular. The popularity of the latter may be related to its tolerability.
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. mycheung@hkucc.hku.hk
B M Y
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Cheung
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Wong
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Lau
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents