Efficacy and safety of a lercanidipine/enalapril fixed-dose combination in hypertensive patients in Portugal.
BACKGROUND
Fixed-dose combinations of hypertensive drugs have been advocated as a suitable option for hypertensive patients who require two or more drugs to achieve blood pressure (BP) targets.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of lercanidipine/enalapril in clinical practice.


METHODS
This observational study collected data for patients with hypertension treated by 46 specialists at clinics across Portugal with lercanidipine/enalapril (10/20 mg). The primary outcome measure was the reduction from baseline in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP).


RESULTS
The registry enrolled 315 patients (59.1 % females; mean age 64.84 ± 12.18 years). Baseline SBP and DBP were 159.11 ± 16.93 and 88.32 ± 12.35 mmHg, respectively. At a mean 2.88 ± 1.75 months after starting lercanidipine/enalapril, the mean change from baseline in SBP and DBP were -18.08 ± 15.91 and -10.10 ± 11.46 mmHg, respectively (both p < 0.001). This corresponded to reductions of 11.4 and 11.3 % in SBP and DBP, respectively. SBP was reduced independently of sex and age, and DBP was reduced independently of sex. The BP control (<140/90 mmHg) rate significantly increased from 10.2 % at baseline to 51.0 % after a mean of 2.88 months of treatment with lercanidipine/enalapril (p < 0.001). Adverse effects were seen in only one patient (0.3 %), who developed a persistent dry cough.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with the fixed-dose combination lercanidipine/enalapril was associated with significant reductions in SBP and DBP, and a significant increase in the BP control rate. This fixed-dose combination has been shown to effectively reduce BP, generally independently of age and sex, and with an excellent safety profile.
Instituto de Investigação e Formação Cardiovascular/Clínica da Aveleira, Quinta da Portela, Rua Princesa Sindazunda Lote 9.3/Loja 94, 3030-503, Coimbra, Portugal.
João
J
Maldonado
Telmo
T
Pereira
Alfredo
A
Tavares
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004656:Enalapril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D011174:Portugal
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D004656:Enalapril; C060343:lercanidipine