Captopril as a replacement for multiple therapy in hypertension: a controlled study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hypertension management often involves multiple drugs with varying side effect profiles.
• Optimizing antihypertensive therapy is crucial for improving patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate captopril as a substitute for other antihypertensive medications (excluding diuretics).
• To assess captopril's impact on reducing side effects and enhancing quality of life in hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving 54 hypertensive patients treated with captopril (25-50 mg twice daily).
• A control group of 52 matched patients received various other antihypertensive agents.
• A 9-month follow-up period was conducted to monitor blood pressure, side effects, and quality of life.

Main Results:

• 81% of patients on captopril achieved a supine blood pressure goal (<90 mmHg).
• Captopril treatment led to significant reductions in reported side effects and improvements in quality of life indicators.
• Captopril demonstrated sustained blood pressure control with minimal adverse events, including mild proteinuria in two patients.

Conclusions:

• Captopril, at 25-50 mg twice daily, offers effective blood pressure control with improved tolerability.
• Substitution with captopril, alone or with thiazide, enhances quality of life compared to beta-blockers, vasodilators, or methyldopa.
• Captopril presents a favorable option for managing hypertension, balancing efficacy with patient well-being.