Influence fixed combination therapy on arterial stiffness and erectile function in patients with arterial hypertension

The aim – to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and dynamics of arterial stiffness using сardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), as well as the dynamics of erectile function in men of the generic fixed triple combination of valsartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide and a double fixed combination of valsartan/amlodipine in the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension II–III degree. Materials and methods. The study included patients with moderate and severe arterial hypertension without diabetes. Patients were divided into 2 groups by the method of envelopes of 25 each. The first group (n=25) was assigned a fixed triple combination of tablets valsartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide. The drug was administered 1 tablet (160 mg of valsartan/5 mg of amlodipine/12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide) once a day in the morning for 1 month. Patients in the second group (n=25) received a similar scheme of a double fixed combination of the drug valsartan/amlodipine. The drug was administered 1 tablet (160 mg of valsartan/5 mg of amlodipine) once a day in the morning for 1 month. If necessary, the target level of office blood pressure was less than 140/90 mm Hg, the dose was titrated to a daily dose of 320/10/12.5 mg (valsartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide) on a fixed triple combination and up to 320/10 mg (valsartan/amlodipine) on a fixed double combination. After 3 months of treatment there was control of therapy.Results and discussion. The study included 50 patients with moderate and severe hypertension. The average age of patients was 54.9±1.8 (25–75) years. The average BMI is 31.2±0.7 kg/m2. The average of the office of SBP and DBP at the beginning of the study were 161.7±1.8 mm Hg and 98.5±1.4 mm Hg in accordance. The office heart rate is 70.7±1.4 bpm. The decrease in the office blood pressure (SBP/DBP) was 35/19 mm Hg (р<0,05) on the double combination and 42/26 mm Hg (р<0,05) on the triple combination. Achieving target BP measurement in the office was 90.9 % – in the double combination and 95.7 % – in triple combination. In the dual combination group, withdrawal was observed in 3 (6 %) patients, in the triple combination group, withdrawal was observed in 4 (8 %) patients. There was a tendency to decrease the stiffness of the arterial wall in terms of cardio-vascular index CAVI, but there was no significant difference. CAVI right on dual therapy up to 8.68±0.57 units and after treatment 8.30±0.55 units. CAVI on the left on double therapy to 8.49±1.49 units and after treatment 8.17±1.49 units. CAVI right on triple therapy up to 8.86±0.39 units and after treatment 8.50±0.40 units from CAVI on the left in a triple combination up to 8.09±0.53 units and after treatment 8.27±0.36 units (p>0.05 for all values). No significant change in erectile function in men was detected during treatment.Conclusion. The dual (valsartan/amlodipine) and triple (valsartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide) fixed combination showed high antihypertensive efficacy, did not adversely affect metabolic disorders and erectile function in men, and inhibited the progression of stiffness.