Calcium channel blockers appear more effective than other antihypertensive drugs for the reduction of short-term and long-term blood pressure variability.
Do calcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure variability and cardiovascular events more effectively than other antihypertensive drugs in patients with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease?
Blood pressure variability is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, and calcium channel blockers appear more effective than other antihypertensive classes in reducing it.
Blood pressure variability (BPV) is considered nowadays a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Early findings in sinoaortic denervated rats have clearly shown that enhanced fluctuation of blood pressure induced left ventricular hypertrophy, vascular stiffness, and renal lesion. A large number of clinical trials confirm that short-term and long-term blood pressure variability independently contributes to target organ damage, cardiovascular events, and mortality not only in hypertensive patients but also in subjects with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Therefore, amelioration of BPV has been suggested as an additional target of the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Preliminary evidence obtained from meta-analysis and controlled clinical trials has shown that antihypertensive classes differ in their ability to control excessive BP fluctuations with an impact in the prevention of cardiovascular events. Calcium channel blockers seem to be more effective than other blood pressure lowering drugs for the reduction of short-term and long-term BPV. In order to increase actual knowledge regarding the prognostic value and therapeutic significance of BPV in cardiovascular disease, there is a need for additional clinical studies specifically designed for the study of the relevance of short-term and long-term BPV control by antihypertensive drugs.
Christián Höcht (2013) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. Calcium channel blockers vs. Other blood pressure lowering drugs was evaluated. Calcium channel blockers appear more effective than other antihypertensive drugs for the reduction of short-term and long-term blood pressure variability.