Addition of Amlodipine or Valsartan for Improvement of Diastolic Dysfunction Associated with Hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant risk factor for diastolic dysfunction.
• Diastolic dysfunction affects the heart's ability to relax and fill properly.
• Understanding treatment effects on diastolic function is crucial for managing hypertensive patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of amlodipine versus valsartan in improving diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients.
• To evaluate the impact of amlodipine and valsartan on key echocardiographic markers of diastolic function.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial involving 104 controlled hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction.
• Patients received either amlodipine 2.5 mg or valsartan 40 mg alongside existing antihypertensive therapy.
• The primary endpoint was the change in the early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular relaxation velocity (E/E') ratio over 6 months.

Main Results:

• Both amlodipine and valsartan significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP).
• Both groups showed significant improvements in the E/E' ratio, indicating better diastolic function.
• No significant differences were observed between amlodipine and valsartan in improving E/E', SBP, LV mass index, or left atrial volume index.

Conclusions:

• Addition of either amlodipine or valsartan to antihypertensive therapy improved diastolic dysfunction in controlled hypertensive patients.
• The study found no significant difference in the effectiveness of amlodipine compared to valsartan for improving diastolic dysfunction.
• Both medications were generally well-tolerated, with a low incidence of serious adverse events.