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Short‐term safety and tolerability of antihypertensive agents in Korean patients: an observational study
Author(s) -
Kim Young Sik,
Park Hye Soon,
Sunwoo Sung,
Byeon Jai Jun,
Song Yun Mi,
Seo Hong Gwan,
Kim Cheol Hwan,
Cheon Kyeong Soo,
Yoo Sun Mi,
Lee Jung Kwon
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.023
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1099-1557
pISSN - 1053-8569
DOI - 10.1002/pds.554
Subject(s) - medicine , tolerability , adverse effect , observational study , incidence (geometry) , physics , optics
Purpose In order to assess the short‐term safety and tolerability of newly prescribed antihypertensive monotherapies in Korean patients, a prospective study was carried out. Methods A total of 1181 patients were observed from July 1997 to August 1999. At 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after initiation of antihypertensive monotherapy, the patients were evaluated for whether treatment was to be continued and the development of any adverse reactions. Results During the first 12 weeks, the percentage of subjects continuing with their initial angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (40.7%) was substanti ally lower than that of subjects continuing with angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA) (66.2%), α‐blockers (63.0%), calcium channel blockers (CCB) (61.3%), β‐blockers (55.8%), and diuretics (53.5%), respectively ( P < 0.01). The following adverse reactions were detected: cough (7.5%), headache (6.1%), dizziness (3.9%), flushing (3.7%) and impotence (2.4%). Cough, headache, and flushing were more frequent in women, and impotence and loss of libido were more frequent in men ( P < 0.05). The incidence of cough associated with ACEI (27.9%) was higher than that associated with the other classes of drugs ( P < 0.01). Conclusions The tolerability of antihypertensive medication was highest in Korean patients treated with ARAs, followed by CCBs, β‐blockers, diuretics, α‐blockers, and ACEIs. The incidences of adverse reactions were different by sex, age and drug class. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.