The Funcional Effect of Beta Blockers vs Vasodilators in Hypertension Treatment
Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2008; 11 (1-4): 8-10
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Keywords: beta blocker, cardiopulmonary exercise test, hypertension treatment, vasodilator
Objective: To evaluate and compare retrospectively the physiological effect of beta blockers versus vasodilators in the treatment of hypertensive patients (pts). Methods: 42 diagnosed hypertensive pts (24 male, 18 female) were studied. They were divided into two groups: (1) 16 patients treated with vasodilators only and (2) 26 patients treated only with beta blockers. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was performed in all pts while they were taking their medications as usual. The following indices were monitored and measured breath by breath during exercise: heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen consumption (VO2), oxygen pulse (O2P), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Maximal exercise capacity was considered as RER having reached a value of at least 1.15. Peak values of the CPET indices were compared between the two groups for each index separately by the two-tailed Student T test. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: No significant differences were observed between groups A and B, respectively, as follows: age 58 ± 13 vs 59 ± 10; RER 1.17 ± 0.12 vs 1.17 ± 0.1; and peak O2P 108 ± 13 vs 102 ± 33. Significant differences between the two groups were observed in: peak HR (% of predicted HR) 90 ± 8 vs 69 ± 12; peak VO2 (% of predicted VO2) 96 ± 9 vs 69 ± 11; and VAT (% of max VO2 predicted) 55 ± 8 vs 43 ± 9 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Beta blockers in the treatment of hypertensive patients demonstrate a significant physiological disadvantage compared to vasodilator treatment. These findings further validate the CPET as an important tool for physiological evaluation of various treatments in hypertensive patients.
Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2008; 11 (1-4): 8-10
PDF Summary Figures
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Keywords: beta blocker, cardiopulmonary exercise test, hypertension treatment, vasodilator
Objective: To evaluate and compare retrospectively the physiological effect of beta blockers versus vasodilators in the treatment of hypertensive patients (pts). Methods: 42 diagnosed hypertensive pts (24 male, 18 female) were studied. They were divided into two groups: (1) 16 patients treated with vasodilators only and (2) 26 patients treated only with beta blockers. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was performed in all pts while they were taking their medications as usual. The following indices were monitored and measured breath by breath during exercise: heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen consumption (VO2), oxygen pulse (O2P), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Maximal exercise capacity was considered as RER having reached a value of at least 1.15. Peak values of the CPET indices were compared between the two groups for each index separately by the two-tailed Student T test. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: No significant differences were observed between groups A and B, respectively, as follows: age 58 ± 13 vs 59 ± 10; RER 1.17 ± 0.12 vs 1.17 ± 0.1; and peak O2P 108 ± 13 vs 102 ± 33. Significant differences between the two groups were observed in: peak HR (% of predicted HR) 90 ± 8 vs 69 ± 12; peak VO2 (% of predicted VO2) 96 ± 9 vs 69 ± 11; and VAT (% of max VO2 predicted) 55 ± 8 vs 43 ± 9 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Beta blockers in the treatment of hypertensive patients demonstrate a significant physiological disadvantage compared to vasodilator treatment. These findings further validate the CPET as an important tool for physiological evaluation of various treatments in hypertensive patients.