Association between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension: real-world observation from a nationwide hypertension cohort

Real-world efficacy of fimasartan vs. other angiotensin receptor blockers in combination with calcium channel blockers: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The antihypertensive efficacy of fimasartan was assessed based on the transition rate from a combination of calcium channel blockers (CCB) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) to three-drug combination therapy, as compared to other ARBs.

METHODS

This nationwide cohort study used data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients who had received national health checkups within 2 years prior to January 1, 2017, and were concurrently prescribed ARBs and CCBs for > 30 days during the 6 months from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into the 'fimasartan group' (those prescribed fimasartan) and the 'non-fimasartan group' (those prescribed ARBs other than fimasartan). The index date was set as the last day of a 30-day prescription period for ARBs and CCBs, with a subsequent 2.5-year follow-up to observe the potential addition of a third drug, such as beta-blockers or diuretics.

RESULTS

The study included 34,422 patients with a mean age of 60.3 years and 58.3% being male. The fimasartan group constituted 2.7% (n = 928) of the total, and the non-fimasartan group, 97.3% (n = 33,494). During the follow-up period, 38 patients in the fimasartan group (14.3 per 1,000 person-years) and 3,557 patients in the non-fimasartan group (42.8 per 1,000 person-years) required additional antihypertensive medications. After multivariate adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, cancer, heart failure, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, the fimasartan group showed a significantly lower rate of adding a third medication (hazard ratio 2.68, 95% confidence interval 1.95-3.69) compared to that of the non-fimasartan group.

CONCLUSIONS

Fimasartan is associated with a lower need for additional antihypertensive drugs compared to other ARBs. This implies its greater effectiveness in hypertension management, potentially enhancing cardiovascular outcomes, and minimizing polypharmacy.

Analytical Interference in Chemiluminescence Assay-Measured Angiotensin I, Angiotensin II, Aldosterone, and Renin

BACKGROUND

The interference can be a significant source of laboratory errors with the potential to cause immunoassay results to drift. Therefore, we evaluated the interference in various endogenous and exogenous substances on immunoassay for angiotensin I (Ang I), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone, and renin in vitro.

METHODS

Ten endogenous and eight exogenous substances were evaluated at supraphysiologic or supratherapeutic plasma levels using the screening study to identify potential interfering substances. Subsequently, potential interfering substances were further tested within maximum pathological or therapeutic plasma concentration ranges using the dose-response study to determine whether the interference has a significant bias. According to preset acceptance criteria, the interference in potential interfering substances for Ang I, Ang II, and renin and aldosterone assays was determined.

RESULTS

Six potential interfering substances for Ang I immunoassays were identified, namely valsartan, nifedipine, spironolactone, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and triglyceride. Meanwhile, ethanol, nifedipine, spironolactone, heparin sodium, warfarin, hemoglobin, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride appeared to have potential interference in the Ang II assay. Three identified as possible interferents for aldosterone immunoassays were glucose, valsartan, and spironolactone. Moreover, warfarin, valsartan, spironolactone, uric acid, cholesterol, bilirubin unconjugated, triglyceride, and hemoglobin were potential interfering substances for renin immunoassays. However, only spironolactone of these potential interfering substances exceeded preset mean bias limits (less than ±10.0%) in aldosterone immunoassays.

CONCLUSION

Exogenous spironolactone caused clinically significant interference in aldosterone immunoassays. Moreover, the interference in other substances was acceptable in Ang I, Ang II, and renin and aldosterone immunoassays.

Cardiovascular medications used for comorbid diseases in patients with atrial fibrillation. The JoFib study

PURPOSE

Many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients use cardiovascular medications for indications other than AF. These medications can affect morbidity and mortality. We aim to investigate the characteristics of AF patients who use different medication classes and their clinical course.

METHODS

We collected data from the prospective, multicenter registry, JoFib study. We identified classes of non-AF medications (medications not used for rate control, rhythm control, or anticoagulation), described demographic and clinical characteristics, and investigated AF-related outcomes according to these medication classes.

RESULTS

From a total of 2020 patients, five classes of cardiovascular non-AF medications were identified, aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, statins, and diuretics. The most commonly used non-AF medications were diuretics and ACE inhibitors/ARBs (39.2%, and 39%, respectively). 51% of AF patients took more than one non-AF medication. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy independently reduced the risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (aHR 0.50, 95%CI 0.37-0.68; aHR 0.51, 95%CI 0.34-0.75, respectively) and that statin therapy reduced the risk of cardiovascular mortality (aHR 0.68, 95%CI 0.48-0.98) in AF patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated a protective effect of statin therapy against the secondary outcome, clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) (adjusted OR 0.62 95%CI 0.42-0.94).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest a protective effect of ACE inhibitors/ARBs against all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, statins against cardiovascular mortality, and CRNMB in patients with AF. Accordingly, these medications should be encouraged in patients with AF when indicated. Additionally, future research should explore whether these medications should be offered to AF patients more routinely. The study was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (unique identifier number: NCT03917992, Registration date:14/4/2019).