A Prospective Comparative Study of Efficacy and Pleiotropic Effect of Telmisartan versus Enalapril in Hypertensive Patients with Dyslipidaemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Visakhapatnam

BACKGROUND Hypertension is a silent killer, an asymptomatic chronic disorder if left untreated which results in major health problems. Goal of treatment is to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications of hypertension when it is associated with dyslipidaemia. The renin angiotensin system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Telmisartan is an ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) and Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of Telmisartan with Enalapril in patients of essential hypertension with dyslipidaemia, and to observe the effects of Telmisartan and Enalapril on blood lipid levels of these patients. METHODS This is a prospective, randomized, comparative and open label study conducted among 70 patients who were included in the study and were divided in to two groups. Group A - consisting of 35 patients receiving Telmisartan 40 mg, and Group B receiving Enalapril 5 mg orally once a day. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Follow up was done after 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Blood pressure was recorded at every visit and lipid profile was done at the time of enrolment and after 12 weeks of study period. RESULTS Baseline demographic attributes were comparable between both the groups including total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The mean reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) after 12 weeks was highly significant (P value < 0.001) in both the groups but when mean reduction in SBP & DBP was compared, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the drugs. Blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride had significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in Telmisartan group compared to Enalapril group after 12 weeks of follow up and mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) level significantly increased in Telmisartan group (P < 0.05) but no increment was seen in Enalapril group. CONCLUSIONS Telmisartan and Enalapril had comparable antihypertensive effect and significant reduction in blood pressure was seen after 12 weeks of therapy in both the groups. In addition, Telmisartan showed more beneficial effects on lipid profile when compared to Enalapril. KEYWORDS Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Lipid Profile, Telmisartan, Enalapril