title: Comparison of nebivolol and atenolol on blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipid profile in patients of essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nebivolol is a third-generation β-blocker, with highest β(1) selectivity and nitric-oxide-derived vasodilatation. It also exhibits antiproliferative and antioxidant property that has beneficial metabolic profile compared to second-generation β blockers like atenolol. This study was planned to study the comparative effects of nebivolol and atenolol on metabolic parameters in patients with essential hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, parallel, open-label clinical study was carried out on patients with essential hypertension. The patients were randomly assigned to receive tablet atenolol (Group A) and nebivolol (Group B) for a period of 24 weeks. Investigations were carried out at baseline and at the end of study period, that is, 24 weeks. Out of 69 patients, 60 completed the study and the data was analyzed using student's t-test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atenolol and nebivolol both showed significant (P < 0.001) antihypertensive action after 24 weeks. Mean blood sugar and lipid profile were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) elevated after 24 weeks of treatment with atenolol but not with nebivolol. Heart rate was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased in both groups at 24 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of metabolic adverse effects of atenolol, nebivolol is the better choice whenever β-blockers have to be used in essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, India.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Badar
authors.forename: Sachin K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hiware
authors.forename: Meena P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Thawani
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hardas