Effects of â2-agonist therapy on blood pressure, glycaemic control and electrolytes levels of asthmatic patients

Introduction: the blood pressure, glycaemic control and electrolyte concentrations are influenced by autonomic nervous system and are expected to be affected by beta-2 agonist medications commonly used by asthmatic patients.Objective:The objective of this study is to detect the possible effects of beta-2 agonist medications on blood pressure, blood glucose and electrolytes concentrations in asthmatic patients.Methods: the study involved a control group of fifty-six healthy subjects matched for gender and age with the study group of one hundred asthmatic patients. Asthmatic patients were further subdivided into two according to whether they were taking beta2 agonists or not. Following verbal consent, blood pressures, blood glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations were measured for each subject. Screening studied variables for significant differences in the means between the groups was performed using analysis of variance.Results: the diastolic blood pressure of non-asthmatic was significantly lower compared with both asthmatic patients not taking beta2 agonist (P = 0.036) and asthmatic patients treated by beta2 agonist (P = 0.003). The mean of blood glucose concentration of non-asthmatic was significantlylower compared with the means of both asthmatic patients not taking beta2 agonist (P = 0.002) and asthmatic patients treated by beta2 agonist (P = 0.000). The mean of calcium concentration of nonasthmaticwas significantly lower compared asthmatic patients treated by beta2 agonist (P = 0.000) while the mean of magnesium concentration of asthmatic patients not taking beta2 agonist was significantly lower compared asthmatic patients treated by beta2 agonist (P = 0.000). Sodium and potassium concentrations were not significantly different among studied groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion: diastolic hypertension, hyperglycemia and hypercalcemia are likely to be associated with bronchial asthma itself, but are not because of beta2 agonist medications. However, hypomagnesaemia may be secondary to beta2 agonist therapy.